A historic telephone kiosk has been given a vibrant new lease of life thanks to Brecon Rotary Club.

After two months of meticulous restoration work, Rotarians Gareth Griffiths and Roger Reese have successfully refurbished the iconic red Llan-y-wern phone box — the last of four kiosks around Llangors Lake to be renovated.

The kiosk, a “K6” model designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 to mark King George V’s Silver Jubilee, has been a prominent feature of the Llan-y-wern Common for nearly 80 years. Like many traditional phone boxes across the UK, it fell into disuse over recent decades due to the rise of mobile phones.

Recognising the importance of preserving this piece of local heritage, the Llan-y-wern Commoners Society adopted the kiosk from Llangors Community Council for a symbolic £1 when all four kiosks around the lake were decommissioned.

Linda Bowen, representing the Commoners, expressed delight at the transformation: “Our phone kiosk is a landmark of the common and all the commoners have been thrilled at the work done – exceeding expectations!”

The restoration involved stripping away old, flaking paint, treating rust, replacing missing glass panes, and applying a fresh undercoat followed by two coats of the iconic red paint supplied by BT. The kiosk now stands out brightly at the Waun-y-Mynach Common crossroads.

The project was a collaborative effort, with Brecon Rotary’s Roger Reese liaising with the Llyn Syfaddan History Group, of which he is chair, and recruiting fellow Rotarian Gareth Griffiths to help bring the kiosk back to life.

The completion of the restoration was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local dignitaries, including County Councillor Sian Cox and Llangors Community Councillor Colin Preece, alongside “commoners” and well-wishers. Local school pupil Kai Powell had the honour of officially opening the kiosk.

Brecon Rotary President Hayley Ridge Evans thanked the Commoners Society for their generous donation of £180, which will support the club’s ongoing community projects.

“I am extremely proud of Brecon Rotary members, Gareth and Roger, who took time out of their busy schedules to renovate the Llan-y-wern phone kiosk which is now looking as good as new,” she said.

“It is thanks to members like Gareth and Roger that Brecon Rotary is able to support our communities in so many different ways and illustrates our intention to be ‘people of action’.

“Thanks must also go to Llan-y-wern Commoners for their kind donation which will be used to help other worthwhile causes in the local community.”

Brecon Rotary meets each Monday at 6:30pm at the Wellington Hotel, Brecon. Anyone interested in joining or learning more about their community initiatives can visit www.breconrotary.com or follow them on social media.