THE Sir Paul Smith Isle of Man 2012 London Olympic stamps were launched on the first minute of January at the Regent Street post office in Douglas.
The post office opened its doors on New Year’s Eve to launch the prestigious stamp issue, which is inspired by the London 2012 Games and designed by Sir Paul Smith, the iconic British fashion designer and friend of Manx cycling superstar and Tour de France green jersey winner Mark Cavendish.
Isle of Man Stamps and Coins – a division of the Isle of Man Post Office – secured Sir Paul’s agreement to design the London 2012 collection and the stamps should provide a lasting memory of the Games remains in the mind long after the last medal has been awarded.
Dot Tilbury, general manager of the Isle of Man Stamps and Coins, welcomed all the guests to the launch, which included British National Archery champion Aalin George and her sister Kirsten, Olympian Marie Morgan, cyclist Tom Black, Stewart Bennett (cycling training partner for paralympian Ian Sharpe) and Red Cross chairman Peter O’Shea, who will be on first aid duty at the Games, together with his daughter Sadhbh, who is a volunteer at the Olympic cycling road races.
An enthusiastic crowd turned up at the launch of the stamps and the staff were kept busy until 1am.
According to Sir Paul, he wanted to make the collection positive and colourful and with a strong graphic style of design, something he has certainly achieved with this iconic collection.
A lifelong follower of the world cycling, Sir Paul said he was honoured to be asked to design the London 2012 stamp issue.
He was also inspired in one of his designs by good friend and Olympic Cyclist Mark Cavendish.
Given that ‘Cav’ gives the Isle of Man such a strong link to the Olympics, there is, appropriately enough, a cycling road bike design on the miniature sheet that has been issued as part of the stamps launch.