Rhyl has a brand‑new burst of colour this week - and it’s one with a whole lot of heart.
The town’s latest knitted postbox topper is celebrating the life and extraordinary career of Dolly Parton, the global icon whose music, humour and generosity shaped generations.
The tribute on East Parade comes from Rachel Williamson, a retired police officer from Rhyl who has now created hundreds of toppers since she first picked up her needles during lockdown.
What began as a simple act of kindness has grown into one of the town’s most loved traditions.
Rachel still remembers the moment it all started.
She’d popped to the chemist to collect her mum’s prescription and saw a queue of “miserable faces” - people weighed down by worry, uncertainty and the strange quiet of those early pandemic days.
So she knitted a sparkly rainbow hat, placed it on a nearby postbox, and hoped it might lift someone’s spirits.
It worked.
And then it kept working.
Since then, her colourful creations have appeared across Rhyl, each one bringing a moment of surprise, a smile, or a quick photo from passers‑by who’ve come to treasure the joy they spark.
Hundreds of toppers later, Rachel’s work has become part of the town’s identity — a little reminder that kindness can be loud, bright and wonderfully woolly.
This latest topper, honouring Dolly Parton, feels especially fitting.
Rachel posted: "Well, it's been a while but I felt the need R.I.P Dolly Parton."
Dolly - the beloved singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist and author - died on Tuesday, August 25, aged 80.
Known for timeless hits like Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You, she was adored not just for her music but for her warmth, humour and unwavering belief in lifting others up.
It’s the kind of spirit Rachel has been stitching into Rhyl for years.
The Dolly Parton topper has already been stopping people in their tracks on Rhyl's seafront, with locals sharing their delight online.
JewelTree Cymru said it was “great to see her standing proud today,” while Vera Davey added a simple but heartfelt “well done Rachel.”
Others praised both the craftsmanship and the sentiment, with Hazel Myers calling it “lovely” and Wendy Evans describing it as “a beautiful and thoughtful tribute to such a kind legend.”
Wendy added: "Let's all be more like Dolly."
A colourful topper celebrating a woman who spent her life spreading joy, made by a woman who’s been doing the very same here at home - it’s hard to imagine it's a tribute Dolly wouldn’t approve of.
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