Tale of Mrs Starling



Earlier this century, but even as early as 1999, an enterprising lady starling hit on the Knockrome post box as an ideal shelter in which to squat and bring up a family. Although the door was a bit narrow and she didn't like the colour much, (illegal immigrants can’t be choosers) she had probably just completed an exhausting flight from Africa and wasn't feeling too particular

In fact, a lot of the house-hunting was done for her by her boyfriend who, according to starling custom, comes with the house. So with a minimum of house-hunting effort she got a home and a potential father all together. Between them, they filled the post-box with the usual rubbish - twigs, grass etc. and made a comfortable nest for the planned family. From time to time however, someone would annoyingly drop in a letter and that proved very inconvenient as the whole interior arrangement had to be re-jigged for the kids. Mirjam, the nice post lady, stuck up a notice up in 2005 warning people not to use the box so the interference with Mrs Starling’s family arrangements soon ceased.

A few wee starlings later and with the nights starting to draw in, it was time for Mrs Starling and her new family to shoot back to Africa and get some reliably decent weather. Several years passed and every year Mrs Starling faithfully returned to her favourite maternity unit in the post box, raising many noisy little starling sprogs in the process. Alas in 2009 she was found lying dead in the post box.

A brass plaque in her memory and in appreciation of her dedication was stuck on to the post box and miraculously, when the GPO replaced the post box in 2013, the plaque was carefully removed and preserved by the workmen. It is now back on the new Knockrome post box.