Stood in the same spot for 30 years, it has become the most photographed landmark in Upchurch other than St. Mary's Church, and has prompted many a small child to ask their parents “what is it and why is it there?”
This type K6 phone box was designed to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V in 1935 and was sometimes known as the “Jubilee Kiosk” when it went into production in 1936.
The K6 was the first red telephone kiosk to be extensively used outside of London, and many thousands were eventually commissioned in nearly every town and city across Britain, replacing most of the existing kiosks and establishing thousands of new sites.
In 1935 there were 19,000 public telephones across Britain, by 1940, thanks to the K6, there were 35,000. They survived the bombing during WW2 and served as a focal point in many towns and villages. Alas due to mobile phones only a few remain in place today.
Thanks to Kent Trade Frames for donating the new glass and everybody for their encouraging compliments on how smart the phone box looks now my restoration is complete.
If you'd like to take a look for yourself and maybe pose for a photo, please come and see me over the VJ Day 75 commemoration weekend.
Jim McAlpin
