Fenland Village’s Annual Festive Phone Box Display

A Fenland village has annually showcased a “blinged-up” disused telephone box each Christmas since its acquisition for £1 in 2010. While local artists have contributed to decorating the booth in Prickwillow, Cambridgeshire, Cary Outis is responsible for the majority of the designs, converting it into artistic creations appreciated by both residents and visitors. A selection of the seasonal appearances that have adorned the phone box throughout the years is presented here. Mr. Outis, an artist and sculptor, endeavors to reuse as many materials from previous years as possible, and his large Santa face creation has been repurposed and “improved” over time, he stated. For his substantial Rudolph sculpture, he utilized old pipe insulation on wire to form the antlers, and draped artificial fur over the plywood reindeer’s body. “I felt a bit sorry for Rudolph, as Santa was getting all the action,” he said. Mr. Outis mentioned that some of the pieces he has produced over the years have presented particular difficulties. A notable challenge was this year’s design—a larger-than-life emperor penguin. Acknowledging his lack of expertise in sewing, he explained that it took him approximately three days to construct the penguin from fabric with wooden supports, and attaching the head to the body was not a straightforward task. Updates on Cambridgeshire news are available via BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the material on external websites. Further details on our approach to external linking are provided.