Nicola Adams (1982 - )

Biography

Nicola Adams was born in Leeds on 26 October 1982. Passionate about boxing from a young age, starting her amateur career at 12 (Daily Mirror, 2012) Adams has faced much hardship over the years of her career, with comments like “women belong in the kitchen” and “why don't you play tennis?''' (Tonks, 2021). Despite this, Adams boats an extensive list of achievements, from being the first female boxer to represent England in 2001, to her 2012 Olympic gold medal. She also boxed in the 2014 Commonwealth games and again in the 2016 Rio Olympics. On 6 November 2019 Adams announced her retirement in a letter to the Yorkshire post.

Context

After the London 2012 Olympics, Royal Mail decided to permanently paint post boxes in honour of the British athletes who won gold medals. The post boxes chosen were those in the hometowns of the athletes. The motive behind this was to “recognise the successes of Team GB and Paralympics GB during this summer’s global sporting events” (Royal Mail, 2012). On 24 July the project commenced with the first post box painted gold in Westminster. Royal Mail also announced that the issue of special stamps to celebrate the gold medallists. Nicola Adams won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Adams was the first female boxer (Daily Mirror, 2012) and first openly LGBTQ+ person to win gold in boxing (Tonks, 2021). The reception of the post boxes has been positive with some becoming “cherished local landmarks” (BBC, 2012). Adams’ post boxes have even received some additions since its unveiling in August 2012. In 2015, Royal Mail added a plastic plaque to the pillar box celebrating 50 years of special stamp featuring Adams' stamp. Then in 2016, a stone plaque was laid at the foot of the post boxes celebrating her MOBO award (Yorkshire Post, 2016).

The postbox

Date Erected:
10th August 2012

Artist:
N/A

Commissioned / funded by:
Royal Mail (BBC, 2012)

Format and materials:
Two gold-painted EIIR post boxes with plaques. Stone pavement plaque.

Location:
Leeds City Centre, Cookridge Street. Next to the Henry Moore Institute. These particular post boxes were painted as they were in her hometown and, convenient for public to access.

Description:
A gold franking mailbox and pillar box side by side. The pillar box features a metal plaque reading:, “This post box has been painted gold by Royal Mail to celebrate Nicola Adams, Gold Medal winner, London 2012 Olympic Games, Boxing Woman’s' Fly Weight “also having the same text in braille below. There is a second plastic plaque, celebrating 50 years of special stamps, featuring Adams' own stamp. Finally there is a stone plaque set into the ground in front. The plaque reads: “NICOLA ADAMS MBE. Paving the way for the next generation. Tell me I can’t and that’s why I will”

Sources

• Adams, N. (2016) 'My Fight to Win …', The Times, 16 July 2016.
• Armstrong, J. and Fricke, M. (2012) 'Clout of this world', Daily Mirror, 10 Aug 2012.
• Armstrong, J. and Fricke, M. (2012) 'Over to you..', Daily Mirror, 9 Aug 2012
• BBC (2012) 'Golden postboxes to keep their sheen to honour British athletes', BBC, 2 November, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20183986
• Bellamy, A. (2019) 'Exclusive: Leeds boxer Nicola Adams to hang up gloves at 37', 4 Dec 2019
• GSE Agency (2012) Nicola Adams, [Online]
• Leslie, C. (2012) 'Women get angry too. Let them punch it out', The Times, 14 Aug 2012.
• Royal Mail (2012) Royal Mail goes Gold this summer, [Online]
• The Newsroom (2016) 'Nicola Adams: Stone revealed for Olympic gold medal winning Leeds boxer', Yorkshire Post, 7th Nov 2016.
• Tonks, O. (2021) ''They said I belong in the kitchen!' Nicola Adams admits she was told women were too 'unstable' to become boxers when she started her career', Daily Mail, 8 Nov 2021.

[Image by 'Tim Green' via Wikimedia Commons]