Is this the tiniest library in Cheshire?

Ruth Parker, a Great Budworth resident for 45 years, with Parish Committee member and organiser, Lesley Hopkinson, inside their new book exchange

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN COCKS
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 

Great Budworth residents have come up with a novel use for a redundant telephone kiosk. Read all about it...

Villagers in picturesque Great Budworth are the latest to find a novel use for a redundant telephone kiosk - a book exchange.

Using money raised at last year’s Jubilee celebrations, the dilapidated kiosk has been carefully restored to its former glory, the parts sourced from a specialist restoration company in Surrey. The plastic windows have been replaced with glass, and the cast iron framework rubbed down and given a fresh coat of the genuine shade of red paint.

Local tradesmen John Eaton and Ted Parry carried out the renovation and paintwork - and once that was complete, Nev Griffin designed and donated shelving and a rack for magazines.

The project was spearheaded by local Councillor Lesley Hopkinson: ‘Since the closure of the shop at one end of the village, we needed a focal point where neighbours can meet and pass the time of day. Using money raised at our Jubilee celebrations seemed particularly appropriate for renovating such an 
icon. This model was known as the Jubilee Kiosk as it was originally designed for the silver jubilee of King George V.’

At the grand opening of the unusual book exchange, the honour of cutting the ribbon was given to Ruth Parker, an avid reader who has lived in Great Budworth over 40 years. She has just retired after 34 years on the governing body of Great Budworth Primary School.

Ruth welcomed a new source of reading material so close to her home, open seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

Great Budworth is a village that loves its books. It welcomes the mobile library service every Wednesday. Every Sunday between April and October, there is a second hand book sale in the Parish Hall along with the - even more popular - teas and cakes.