Bestselling author opens community phone box library

The best-selling and award-winning writer's books including historical mystery The Woman in the Lake, which was partly inspired by the legendary network of smugglers' tunnels beneath Swindon.
Earlier this year, community action group Sustainable Shrivenham set up a community library in one of the village’s decommissioned red telephone boxes. 
With the support of the parish council, which had already installed a defibrillator in the village’s other phone box, the group of five volunteer committee members secured the phone box from British Telecom.
Kate Myrie, Co-chair of Sustainable Shrivenham, said: “Thanks to the generosity of the local community, we received a donated book shelf that we were able to install in the phone box with the help of a local tradesperson.
“We have a fantastic amount of support in the village and are really grateful to those who joined us on the day, and especially to Nicola for coming to do the honours of celebrating the new resource in the village.”
Located on High Street, the book swap was very well received, but due to the national lockdown the official opening ceremony had to be delayed. 
Nicola Cornick said: “I was delighted to be asked to open the book swap this weekend. These mini libraries that are popping up all over the country are a fantastic resource for any community and a great way to reuse an icon of British history.
"Not only do they encourage sharing of physical books, they offer free learning and entertainment to everyone. They also provide access to books for those who may not otherwise get that opportunity.
"I hope Shrivenham continues to enjoy this new addition and I am very happy to be donating a copy of my most recent book, The Last Daughter, to the shelves.”
The opening was toasted in the garden of local hotel and restaurant The Barrington Arms, which also houses one of the Sustainable Shrivenham plant swaps. 
Sustainable Shrivenham's website is www.sustainableshrivenham.com