The Man Who Saved the Last Phone Box in His Village
Derek Harris, then 89 years old, led a successful campaign from Sharrington, Norfolk, to save the village's K6 phone box after British Telecom (BT) earmarked it for closure in January 2025. The K6 box, designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, remains in use only if it records at least 52 calls per year. In 2024, usage had dropped to fewer than 10 calls, but a surge of calls from villagers one day exceeded 230, helping to meet the threshold.
The campaign mobilized volunteers from Sharrington and surrounding areas, with support from a local Member of Parliament and district councillors. Photographs of BT vans visiting the box were submitted as evidence demonstrating the maintenance feasibility. In March, BT reversed its closure decision.
During the summer, the phone box was refurbished with a new door and brass hinges, with the work completed in time for Harris's 90th birthday in July. Harris had been diagnosed around February with inoperable cancer and requested that his illness not be made public. The village celebrated his milestone birthday with a garden party, and the parish council presented a card featuring the phone box alongside a fridge magnet.
Villagers expressed joy at the preservation of the phone box, which Harris described as "alive," preferring it remain in service rather than being converted into a library or serving another function. The story attracted national and global attention, highlighting local sentiment against large organisations. The kiosk remains a cherished link within the community.
