We have had two absolutely wonderful Big Summer Holiday Postcard Drops in 2021 and 2023 where people from all around the world have sent postcards to The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society in recognition of this wonderful invention, which has been the staple of a trip away for decades.

As well as a celebration of the humble postcard, the Big Summer Holiday Postcard Drop was just a way to encourage us all, and especially children, to keep writing during the holidays via a fun and light-hearted activity.

It usually runs from the start of the summer holidays around mid-July and finishes at the start of September (with a bit of a grace period for those still winging their way to us). We then make a big display of them all for World Postcard Day on 1st October. In 2021 THLAS HQ received 118 and in 2023 it was an amazing 340!

However, because letter and postcard writing currently need all the help they can get, I thought it might be nice to run this year’s Big Summer Holiday #PostcardDrop2025 from the very start of the summer months on the 1st June up until all the schools have gone back – but also add a little twist to this one.

As well as seeing how many postcards we can gather here at THLAS HQ from all over the planet, I wondered if people in the UK would be up for also dropping a few in the post to the CEO of Royal Mail at the same time. The brilliant thing about sending them to Royal Mail is that you can use the FREEPOST address so it will only cost the price of the postcard (homemade ones are perfect too), but it will give us an opportunity to remind Emma Gilthorpe just how much letter and postcard writing still means.

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UPDATE: July 2025: Emma Gilthorpe has left Royal Mail as the CEO and the new person is Alistair Cochrane. Also as far as I can tell, Daniel Křetínský is now the new owner of Royal Mail so I’m hopeful he might pop by Head Office and pick up his post occasionally. Do feel free to write to either of them as well to let them know how much letter writing still means…

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We have to be prepared for the CEO ones to disappear into the ether, perhaps never to be seen or heard of again, but that’s OK because sometimes the brilliant thing about sending post is the wondering whether it ever made it. I really want the CEO and owner to experience the utter joy of receiving postcards and if they get hundreds it might just ignite a little flame of understanding as to why Royal Mail (and all postal services) need to promote letters, make postage affordable and invest in the infrastructure to continue to deliver our mail.

So, what do you think? Shall we see just how many postcards we can gather here at THLAS HQ in the next three months? And send some to Royal Mail HQ at the same time?

Thanks so much, everyone! And here’s to forever being able to send postcards from a staycation or a trip away!

Dinah

PS Just to recap:

Aim: To amass as many postcards as possible from around the world at THLAS HQ during the summer months and school holidays (1st June to early September 2025).

Purpose: For fun. To see how many we can get. To keep the art of sending postcards alive. To encourage everyone (and definitely kids) to keep writing during the holidays.

How: Find a postcard (shop, home, handmade), write something on it, attach a stamp, then send to:

THLAS #PostcardDrop2025
PO Box 9347
Swanage, Dorset
BH19 9BG

Outcome: Lots of amazing postcards from all around the world to show that postcard writing is still alive and well!

The Twist: (UK only) Also send lots of postcards to Alistair Cochrane, CEO of Royal Mail, and Daniel Křetínský, Royal Mail owner, via the FREEPOST address here:

Royal Mail Customer Services
FREEPOST
PO BOX 76085
London, EC1P 1HA

Do share any photos of postcards being sent on social media to spread the word. Add the hashtag #PostcardDrop2025 and tag us in @letterappsoc. Thanks again!