ROYAL MAIL 'NEEDLESSLY' REPAINTS SEVEN POST BOXES SMARTENED UP BY DECORATORA decorator has blasted Royal Mail for repainting seven post boxes he smartened up for the Queen's 90th birthday - because they were the WRONG shade of red. Professional painter Ray Powell, 55, gave the tired-looking post boxes a fresh lick of red paint, outlining the crown and ER detail in gold and black especially for the special occasion last June. But last week, he was astonished to learn Royal Mail had sent a workman out for the first time in over 17 years - to go over the paintwork in a different shade of red. Ray, 55, said: "I take great pride in my work so I'd spent hours sprucing them up as a celebration of the Queen's 90th birthday.