I recorded this almost two years ago, but as we’ve just escaped the worst UK winter for one hundred years and find ourselves at the start of what may actually turn out to be a warm, bright summer it feels appropriate to dust it off.
I realised as I was filming this that I’ve never used a payphone.
I’m sure I must have come close when I was younger – going out to play with a 20p coin tucked in my sock to ring home ‘just in case’, but luckily I was never scared enough or hurt enough to make the call. I remember friends daring friends to dial 999 but I don’t remember any of us getting further than lifting the receiver.
There are still over 63,000 public payphones in the UK, but last year usage fell by more than 20 percent and many are now being removed (although BT have to consult with the local council before this can happen).
I should probably take that 20p out of my sock.
