The Police Box at St Budeaux

Long before Doctor Who made his first appearance on tv in 1963, there were Police telephone boxes scattered all over Britain. They were once commonplace and everyone recognised them. Many kids watching Doctor Who today will wonder what a Police box was. Many people of my age and older will remember the box that stood on Outlands Road for many years. It disappeared a long time ago and was about 50 years old then. It was regularly opened when Plymouth Argyle was playing. The above photo shows a Police box that once stood in St Budeaux Square. I wonder how many older residents can still remember it? At one time, it was an essential link for policeman on the beat. If the amber light on top flashed, it meant that there was an emergency call to answer. Policemen with prisoners would lock them inside until reinforcements showed up. Lost children and animals would also end up in the box. 

The phone inside would have been a Bakelite type one with an old fashioned dial. Police in the 1960s and 1970s would have laughed at how old fashioned this all was when walkie talkies became commonplace but it seems even further back in time from today when everyone is linked by a mobile phone or the internet. Gone are the days of bobbies on bicycles cycling to the nearest Police box to report a crime. The world's moved on but I think that I might prefer things back then!