Dr WHO?

[Nemesis]

Fascinating stuff!

http://www.ibphoto.co.uk/policeboxes/pboxhist.htm

 

[BMcD]

Very interesting. I used to think that they were used as temporary gaols, where a beat bobby could lock up a miscreant and telephone the station to come and pick up the wrong doer, allowing the bobby to stay on the beat.

 

[Nemesis]

That would have been useful in the past when one had one's collar felt and would say 'It's a fair cop guv', but I suspect that today's criminals would hardly stay put for long!


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Dixon of Dock Green
After whistling the theme tune, “An Ordinary Copper” George Dixon always said:

“Good evenin’ all.”

He would then tell us a little about what happened “the other night” then there would be a fade to him walking the beat … and trying all the shop door handles.

At the end of each programme, Dixon would outline a moral for the story, finishing up with:

“’Night all.”

He would then whistle “Maybe it’s because I'm a Londoner “.

The following are the words to “An Ordinary Copper “, but these were not actually used on the TV programme:

I'm an ordinary copper who’s patrolling his beat.
Around Dock Green.
'Hello, Mister Dixon!' shout the kids in the street,
Around Dock Green.
The C.I.D. are always in the headlines,
But I prefer the ordinary scene,
As an ordinary copper who’s patrolling his beat.
Around Dock Green.

The teddy boys' ain’t partial to my company,
They don't like all their capers to be seen,
By an ordinary copper who’s patrolling his beat
Around Dock Green.

 

[Penners]

Fascinating stuff!

... or patronising guff! Of course we remember what police boxes were for.

At least we do if we're as decrepit as yours truly.

Here's another trip down memory lane. Do you remember getting saluted by AA men on their motorbike/sidecar combinations?

 

[Nemesis]

I'm sure there's one at the top of Kirkstone Pass, surprised to find it doesn't seem to be listed, unless a recent addition. Five here, with pics (can't seem to link - put AA box in search):

http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/QuickResults/Default.aspx

http://www.outofoblivion.org.uk/record.asp?id=94

There's also this one with no pic:

IoE Number: 287044
Location: AA BOX AT ENTRANCE TO ENTRANCE TO COBHAM BUS MUSEUM, REDHILL ROAD (east side)
ESHER, ELMBRIDGE, SURREY
Photographer: N/A
Date Photographed: N/A
Date listed: 04 March 1988
Date of last amendment: 04 March 1988
Grade II



TQ 06 SE REDHILL ROAD (East side), Cobham 4/372 AA Box at entrance to Cobham Bus Museum GV II AA box. 1956-type. Black-painted wood with metal roof. Square on plan, tapering slightly, the sides of vetical boards. Ledge runs around top, above which each side rises to a gable with bargeboards and has a panel enclosing AA sign (not at rear). Central ridge vent with pyramidal cap. Door in front has glass window at top and ledge over. Resited. ------------------------------------ TQ 06 SE REDHILL ROAD (east side) Cobham 4/372 AA Box at entrance to Cobham Bus Museum GV II AA box. 1920s/30s. Black-painted wood with metal roof. Square on plan, tapering slightly, the sides of vertical boards. Ledge runs around top, above which each side rises to a gable with bargeboards and has a panel enclosing AA sign (not at rear). Central ridge vent with pyramidal cap. Door in front has glass window at top and ledge over. Resited.

Also - see pic in with these: (click to enlarge)

http://www.j-and-s.net/cumbria.html

http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=453157&mode=adv

That one came up with Automobile Association in the search.

And more info here about survivors:

http://www.beadnell.org/events/aa_box.htm

Carole received a call from Mr Ron Burton who had himself only recently photographed the box for English Heritage under their 'Images of England' project. He was able to confirm that the box had in fact been listed in 1987 and as such could not be removed or in any way interfered with.

Yet a search has not as yet brought it up on IoE!

 

[Nemesis]

Aha!


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© Mr Keith Ascough

IoE Number: 410953
Location: AA TELEPHONE KIOSK NUMBER 817, B 1340 (south side)
BEADNELL, BERWICK UPON TWEED, NORTHUMBERLAND
Photographer: Mr Keith Ascough
Date Photographed: 19 February 2006
Date listed: 17 November 1987
Date of last amendment: 17 November 1987
Grade II


BEADNELLB1340 (South Side)NU 22 NWAA Telephone Kiosk12/84No 817

BEADNELL B1340 (South Side) NU 22 NW AA Telephone Kiosk 12/84 No 817 II Automobile Association telephone booth; mid C20. Tarred wood with cast iron plaques; lead roof. Structure about 3' square and 7' high. Plaque on front door has telephone sign. Plaque on left return has box No. 817. Roof pedimented on all sides, with AA initial plaques within the pediments. A rare survival of these once common telephone boxes.

If only IoE had some sort of consistency...

 

[Penners]

Bizarre that that one appears to be in the middle of a wood. I always thought they were positioned for the convenience of motorists, rather than pine martens. :?

 

[Nemesis]

Even more bizarre is that today we went over Kirkstone Pass to get to Windermere - and gave a lift to a chap whose car had conked out at the bottom of the hill.

No mobile network works there, so we took him to the top to use what is /was a joint AA/red K6 BT box there to call - erm... the RAC!!

See pics:
http://www.jrsaville.co.uk/kirkstone_pass.htm

http://www.kirkstonepassinn.com/


Sadly though the phone wasn't working, but then I realised that my mob was, so all was OK.

http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/kirkstonepass.htm

 

[wobs]

I seem to recall there was one in Sheffield, near the Town Hall when I was there in the later 90s. Assume its still there.

Speaking of small structures, I just hope they don't rip out more of the old cream coloured telephone boxes around here (Hull). I think some have been listed which is nice.

 

[Penners]

Doesn't/didn't Hull have its own small, independent phone company, back in the days when BT (or Post Office Telephones) had the rest of the country as a monopoly?

 

[Nemesis]

Yup.

http://www.kcom.com/centenary/historyinwords/default.asp?NavID=3

Other telephone boxes:

http://www.shapesoftime.net/pages/viewpage.asp?uniqid=11748

and this of course:

http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/press/070311_K8_phone_boxes.html

http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/shop/tea%20towel%20insert_2%20(2).pdf

 

[wobs]

Doesn't/didn't Hull have its own small, independent phone company, back in the days when BT (or Post Office Telephones) had the rest of the country as a monopoly?

I'll second that Yup:

They basically went their own way when BT was formed as a seperate entity from the Post Office.

Although now, we're stuck with expensive broadband, and BT don't get a look in. KC used to be cheaper, but times change (sigh). BTW, we have Hull edition of Monopoly, which suddenly seems rather ironic.

 

[biffvernon]

I drove past one yesterday between Leyburn and Bainbridge in Wensleydale. It might even be this one?

[/quote]

 

[Penners]

I've no excuse for posting this picture, other than sheer nostalgia. Do you remember being saluted?

 

[Moo]

Oh, yes. Happy memories.
Actually they were saluting my father, who was driving the car, but it made me feel very grand all the same.

 

[Nemesis]

Interesting Mr Bond...

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Police-see-red-as-.3800971.jp

 

[Penners]

Police box? It looks more like a mausoleum!

Maybe Dr Who is gay, after all.

 

[Ian Bond]

Interesting Mr Bond...

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Police-see-red-as-.3800971.jp

Indeed it is. Nice to see that they went to the trouble of sanding it properly before painting.

The other Mr Bond.