'Postbox to heaven' helps loved ones grieve

A postbox has been installed at a burial ground in Dorset to help people affected by grief.

The white "postbox to heaven" at Lyme Regis Cemetery offers people a place to post messages and letters to loved ones who have died.

The project was proposed by town councillor Cheryl Reynolds who was moved by the story of a nine-year-old girl who wrote letters to her late grandparents.

Local people experiencing their own loss were joined by the mayor and deputy mayor to see the box installed.

Among them was Jacki Taylor - whose husband died recently. She was joined by her son, 12, and daughter, 16.

She said: "I love the idea that children and adults can write letters to their loved ones, knowing their loved ones will receive their messages.

"I think it's important to not only write the letter but to post something physical.

"Grief is always a struggle.

"We lost Kev very suddenly. It is not going to be a five-minute job, it will take years to process, but now we have somewhere special to post our letters to him."

The box was bought by Lyme Regis Town Council.

A short ceremony, attended by mayor Phillip Evans and deputy mayor Michaela Ellis, was held to mark its installation.

Ms Reynolds said no-one would read the messages.

"They will be collected regularly by two of us and carefully composted, feeding the beautiful trees in our cemetery," she said.

Ms Reynolds said she was moved after reading about the nine-year-old girl from Nottinghamshire, called Matilda, who came up with the idea of sending letters to heaven.

"She had lost her grandparents and found writing letters to them brought her comfort," Ms Reynolds said.

"I cried and I wanted to do the same."

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