I read with interest the recent front page story ( 'A very eccentric special delivery' Times, November 15).

I, like many other readers of the Harrow Times, extend our congratulations to Arthur Reader on his achievement of winning 'third most eccentric man in Britain' award.

I admire Mr Reader's energy in pursuing his passion for collecting postboxes and his ambition to eventually open a museum dedicated to this important part of our heritage.

I do, however, fail to understand why a collector wins an award as an eccentric, assuming that his collection is the sole reason for winning the award.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines an eccentric as 'a person whose conduct is irregular odd or whimsical'.

I would be grateful if someone would explain at what stage a keen collector becomes an 'eccentric', if solely due to his passion for collecting?

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