Mail vendor turns the city red, white and blue (From The Oxford Times)

Mail vendor turns the city red, white and blue

10:30am Thursday 24th May 2012 in News

PATRIOTIC souvenir stall holder and Oxford Mail vendor John Irvin has paid £300 to bring some red, white and blue to the city.

When he discovered no plans had been made to put up bunting in St Ebbe’s, he knew something had to be done.

John, who has greeted thousands of tourists in his 29 years in the city, got council and business owners to let him honour The Queen.

Now the street is awash with the colours of the Union flag.

John, whose son also called John, pictured above at the family’s stall, said: “About 80 per cent of my customers are tourists and if we are a tourist city, especially with a Jubilee year, I do think we should be putting up the bunting.

“If I had 10p for everyone who took a photo I’d be a rich man.”

Mr Irvin added: “I do believe in The Queen. I am 53, she has been around all my life.”

Tom McNally, assistant manager at the British Heart Foundation charity shop in the street, welcomed the splash of colour.

He said: “It looks really nice down the street.” Picture: OX52089 Ed Nix