Kishorn phone box ‘tarted up’ in hopes of creating local landmark
TWO Strathcarron women have “tarted up” a disused old phone box, in hopes of creating a local landmark.
A few years ago, a local man named Robert MacInnes had turned Strathcarron’s local K6 red phone box into the Kishorn Selfie Box — but had to give it up when he moved away to Skye.
In spring of this year, friends Emma Flack and Jan Roberts decided that they wanted to bring a new lease of life into the selfie box once again.
“I remember saying ‘It looks so tatty, I wish we could just tart it up a bit, it’s a shame it’s going to waste,’” Emma said. “Robert MacInnes had gotten it running a few years ago, so I contacted him and he was happy to see it resurrected.”
The two women were given a grant from the Kishorn Community Trust to give the box a glow-up.
Emma continued: “We gave it a good clean and repainted it red, with gold on the crown. A few people from the village came together and helped us renovate it.
“Very kindly, Broadford’s Jewson donated all of the garden chippings for us, as well as all the bits we needed for the garden.
“Then we got some local donations for the book nook, and we were ready to go!”
The Kishorn Selfie Box officially launched in June, with its own Instagram page and Facebook group also being launched. The box is officially owned by Lochcarron Community Council, who said they were happy for the two women to “manage it on their behalf”.
“We’ve had a couple of tour companies come through and have their selfies taken in the box. People can come and drop off books, or take some away. Jan does a lot of the maintenance, and we’ve got a little donation box inside if anyone wants to buy a book.
“Hopefully everybody’s enjoying it! Jan and I are very glad we did it — it looks nice when you’re driving through too.
“We’re hoping to do a Halloween get-together for the kids and dress the box up.”
The phone box’s Instagram and Facebook handle is @kishornselfiebox