Village converts phone booth into advent calendar

Residents of All Stretton, a quaint village in Shropshire, have creatively repurposed their traditional red phone box as an oversized advent calendar. Previously serving as a small museum and a Remembrance display, the box now showcases daily contributions from the local community.

Every day, the phone box windows will feature artworks, photographs, and collages celebrating winter and Christmas themes. Jane Hickman, the mastermind behind the project and a member of the All Stretton Village Society, praised the villagers for their enthusiastic support. "Despite the short notice, everyone rallied and provided a wealth of photos and artwork," she said.

Selecting pieces from the many submissions was a challenge, according to Mrs. Hickman. "We received an incredible number of photographsbeautiful shots of our village in the snowas well as numerous creative artworks," she explained.

The advent calendar began with a painted Christmas tree on display for the first day. Mrs. Hickman expressed her hope that the project would bring joy and encourage residents to pause and appreciate the artistic efforts of their neighbors.

Local contributor Maria Davy shared her excitement about participating. She said that having her artwork included would give her a "warm glow" and highlighted the sense of community the calendar fosters. "Its wonderful to contribute to something that shows the village spirit," she noted. Mrs. Hickman added, "We could have used generic images from the internet, but this way, it truly reflects the connection our villagers have with the place."

Author: Sophia Brooks