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Skegness women celebrated in phone box in Germany

Grace McGroryEast Yorkshire & Lincolnshire
News imageJohn Byford A blue telephone box is photographed from a low angle beneath the branches of a tree. Each window is filled with a portrait of a woman. One is filled the word “Sie,” and a QR code. John Byford
The photographs of 23 women have been placed in the windows of a telephone box in the German town, Bad Gandersheim

A British phone box featuring the stories of 23 women is starring in a photography exhibition in Germany.

Artist John Byford photographed and interviewed the women – aged 23 to 96 – from Skegness, Lincolnshire, for a project called Her/Sie (she).

The exhibition in Bad Gandersheim, Lower Saxony, which is twinned with Skegness, coincides with celebrations of the town's most famous daughter, the 10th Century German writer Roswitha.

Byford said: "They're wonderful stories. Some of them are very sad, very emotional. All the stories are there for people to read, and they all grace this telephone box."

News imageJohn Byford A blue telephone box displaying a series of portrait photographs as part of an exhibition in a town square.John Byford
Skegness has been twinned with Bad Gandersheim since 1979

People are invited to look at the photos and then scan a QR code to read about each individual story.

Byford said he wanted to represent women of all ages in his work.

"I want people to just look at these pictures, read the story, and look at the picture again – and learn a little bit about life in Skegness."

Tracy Turner, who is one of the 23 women, said she was "humbled" to have been included.

"I've been fortunate. I read the stories [beforehand], but when it comes to life it is one of the most fascinating things."

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