The iconic cream-coloured telephone boxes were once a typical sight in Hull
A 100-year-old icon of the city’s streets has taken up residence at a popular veterans’ charity, thanks to two Hull businesses.
The cream-coloured K6 phone boxes were once common sights in the region, unlike the standard red ones in place across the rest of the UK. Digital communications provider KCOM owns a number of the iconic boxes, and was keen to donate one to charity Hull 4 Heroes, to take pride of place in its community shop.
The move comes after the comms company previously donated a phone box to the Tigers Trust. Now machinery moving company Hird, which is based in English Street, Hull, has been enlisted by KCOM to carry out the careful operation of moving the K6 to its new home.
Hird, a mini crane, glass lifter and powered access hire and sales specialist, used a Valla pick and carry crane to carry out the lift. A member of Hird’s team used the mini crane to raise the almost 1-tonne telephone box so it could be placed on one of Hird’s equipment transportation lorries using a forklift.
KCOM Community Impact Partner Louise Babych said: “We worked with the Hird team when we donated a K6 phone box to the Tigers Trust last year. These 100-year-old phone boxes need to be moved safely, in a way that that ensures they’re not damaged, and the Hird team has all the necessary equipment and expertise to make sure that happens.
“It was a pleasure to work with the team who, like us, love to support local charities. So I had no hesitation in recommending them to Hull 4 Heroes to deliver this phone box.”
Hull 4 Heroes had been looking forward to welcoming it into its community shop. The charity has a support system for veterans and their families in the city and the surrounding region. The K6 shell will have a new lease of life as part of a display of military paraphernalia at the front of the shop.
Hird’s team moved the phone box on to the floor of the community shop, based in Princes Quay shopping centre, with millimetre precision.
Phil Harrison of Hird said: “We were very happy to be able to help both the Hull 4 Heroes charity and KCOM on this lift. The telephone box will help the charity’s work to support veterans and their families in the local community. We’re honoured to be able to help the charity and its volunteers in their great work.”