![\"Orchestral](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS389435877.jpg\")
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark made this phone box famous(Image: Liverpool ECHO)<\/p>\nPeople from across the world come to Wirral to see itOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark made this phone box famous(Image: Liverpool ECHO)<\/p>\n
Red phone boxes are a classic symbol of the UK and have been around since the 1920s. While they may be strongly associated with London, they are found in other areas of the country and one in Merseyside is steeped in our musical heritage<\/p>\n
Although they now act as an instantly recognisable British design, the cost of maintenance<\/a> and low usage, among other factors, means outside of London they are not a common sight. In 1992 at their peak before mobile phones became popular, there were 92,000 phone boxes in the UK.<\/p>\n Located in Meols, Wirral<\/a>, is an unassuming red phone box that stands proudly at the junction of Greenwood Road and Birkenhead<\/a> Road. The history of what is now a musical monument, is linked to the Wirral band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).<\/p>\n Adorned on the walls inside, you will find intriguing graphic design featuring the unmistakable sharp, clean lines and blocks of colour of OMD<\/a>. It reflects the artwork used by the band over their incredible career.<\/p>\n Before finding fame in the late 1970s, Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey used the phone box as their unofficial office<\/a>. Here, they would arrange gigs and speak to their manager. The importance of the phonebox to the band members is evident in their single Red Frame\/White Light.<\/p>\n The box’s phone number of 632 3003 is mentioned in the lyrics of the band\u2019s second single. A number which continued to have huge significance for the Meols area and fans of the band when the future of the unofficial office became uncertain.<\/p>\n The phone box was disconnected by BT in 2017<\/a> and removed from the area. Fearing a part of Merseyside’s cultural heritage had been taken from the community, a campaign for its return gained rapid popularity and it was quickly reinstalled in the original spot.<\/p>\n After the phone box was reinstated, it was given a makeover by John Petch, the band\u2019s cover artist. One of the campaigners, Stephanie McCahill, is now in charge of looking after the street corner monument.<\/p>\n The campaigners originally named themselves “Save 632 3003” but became the “Friends of 632 3003”, they committed to maintenance and management of the telephone box.<\/p>\n In 2019, the monument that became synonymous with the Joan of Arc singers was honoured with a blue plaque, which was awarded as part of the group’s 40th anniversary celebrations.<\/p>\n The blue plaque reads: “K6 Telephone Box, Greenwood Road. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released ‘Red Frame White Light’, their second single, on 1st February 1980. This phone box was the band’s unofficial office in their early days. The track features ‘632 3003’, the phone box’s number.”<\/p>\n The design now found on the phone box contains elements of the Punishment of Luxury album cover, their 2017 album release, and specific design features relevant to the Red Frame\/White Light lyrics.<\/p>\n Inside the phonebox, fans can listen to five pre-recorded messages from the band’s frontman, Andy McCluskey. The messages welcome visitors and give a short history, detailing OMD’s association with it.<\/p>\n The ECHO asked an OMD group on Facebook<\/a> about the importance of the phone box to the local area it sits in. One fan, Adrian Platt wrote: “The phone box is situated outside St Andrews URC church in Meols and just over the road from the Railway pub.<\/p>\n “The significance of St Andrew’s (and many of the churches in that area) was that they used to allow local bands to practice on their premises. Others in the area would host a night for local bands to play. (I recall Paul’s first public performance was at another URC church hall in Hoylake<\/a> just up the road.)<\/p>\n “There was a very active music scene back then and church\/community halls allowed space for it to flourish.” Another fan of the electronic group, commented: “As legend says it\u2019s where they received a call to state that \u201cMessages\u201d had gone Top 20.”<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS389435871.jpg\")
A red phone box in Meols, Wirral, used as an unofficial office by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark(Image: A red phone box in Meols, Wirral, used as an unofficial office by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)<\/p>\n![\"OMD](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS271412961.jpg\")
OMD founding members Paul Humphreys (left) and Andy McCluskey inside the red phone box monument to the band on Greenwood Road in Wirral.(Image: Andy Barrett and Steph McCahill\/ECHO)<\/p>\n