Friday 24th September saw the official opening of Chiddingfold Swapbox within the now decommissioned red BT phone box on Woodside Road.
Following the adoption of the phone box by the Parish Council in Spring 2020 residents were asked to come up with ideas for how it could be given a new role and a book sharing facility was the most popular suggestion, though swapping puzzles and homegrown produce were also popular ideas.
The council asked for volunteers to take on the management of the box and local residents Jo Jazeel, Edwina Terry and Paul Kerry came forward to offer their assistance. They undertook refurbishing and repainting the box, with the help of local painter / decorator Dan Hinds, and shelves were installed enabling donated stock to be properly displayed. Going forward volunteers will look after the day-to-day running of the box and the associated Facebook page www.facebook.com/Chiddswapbox, where requests for stock and updates on what is available will be shared.
The launch was hosted by the Parish Council and there was good attendance from representatives of local groups and organisations, including Guides, WI, Scouts, Haslemere Rotary, local churches and the Chiddingfold Village Nursery alongside local residents. Councillor Jane Devlin welcomed all the event and gave thanks to the volunteers who had brought the vision for the old phone box to fruition, before Jo Jazeel cut the ribbon. After the opening there were refreshments to enjoy and all attendees were able to take away a commemorative bookmark, the box also got its first customer in the shape of 3 year old Georgina Griffiths-Burdon, who found some Peppa Pig reading material!