Riddle of the missing green phonebox

Now, much to the dismay of the Kings Moss villagers - plus all with an interest in local history - that green box has vanished. It was last heard to be heading for the Wigan Pier heritage centre - though efforts to verify this have so far failed.

Meanwhile, Kings Moss cottagers are served by a replacement vandal-proof, stainless steel telephone point, of the kind that leaves the caller exposed to the elements.

It was Marie Nelson, a nostalgia addict from Haresfinch, who pointed out the sad loss of that green-box tourist attraction and demanded, through this page (April 25) to know why it had been uprooted in recent years.

And now, Norman Wilson, a Billinge councillor celebrating 25 years' public service, has come up with the answer.

As the man who had fought a lengthy campaign to have that green phone box installed back in 1973 he was naturally dismayed to see it disappear,

It was once featured on Roy Castle's 'Record Breakers' junior TV slot as the only green phone box in England.

But Norman admits that the removal was inevitable. "For years, Kings Moss folk took pride in keeping that box spick and span," he says, "they even set out bedding plants beside it to add an extra bit of colour."

However, around 1990, increasing waves of vandalism by louts from outside the hamlet meant that the kiosk was out of action more often than it was in use.

"I suppose it's a sign of the times we live in," sighs Norman, "but it was no use having a public phone unless it was functional. So BT swopped what was a totally unique telephone box for modern, vandal-proof equipment."

Norman (69) had pursued his phone-box mission for two years, cutting through swathes of red-tape before the glorious day dawned and the kiosk was unveiled in a blaze of publicity.

"Some fellow councillors thought it was an obsession that would never succeed," he smiles, "but I was determined that Kings Moss would have a public telephone. I'd argued that this could have been the difference between life and death should an ambulance or doctor be needed by villagers who were not private telephone subscribers." Norman had first tapped Lancashire County Council (the tier above what was then Billinge Urban District Council). They had a fund to subsidise kiosks around the county - but by then the phone-box budget had been spent.

Next, he waded through heaps of rules and regulations before it was established that Billinge council, which then embraced Kings Moss, could legally buy their own phone box.

The GPO in Liverpool was contacted with a view to purchasing a kiosk - only to be knocked back. Norman later discovered that the traditional old phone boxes were being sold to American tourists who wanted them for garden ornaments. Seeing red, he contacted his MP who in turn put pressure on the Postmaster General.

"The Liverpool branch decision was overturned," Norman recalls, "and we were in business."

But there was one firm condition attached. The kiosk could not be painted in GPO red livery.

"So we simply chose a nice shade of green suitable to the rural environment," explains Norman.

The old Billinge council maintained and collected takings from the green box to cover rental of the telephone equipment until local government reorganisation in 1974 meant that the kiosk had to be handed over to Wigan Metro.

Wigan accepted the phone box responsibilities until repeat vandalism erupted and the green landmark had to bow out . "We had been promised that our unique telephone box would be displayed at Wigan Pier centre, together with a little explanatory plaque," says Norman, "but so far I have been unable to find out whether the council is keeping its word."

WELL now, is the green box in cold storage at Wigan - or has it been quietly scrapped or sold on? Anyone able to give an answer? If so, please drop me a line at the Star.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.