The K6 phone box
A hero of the high street that’s been a familiar sight on the streets of Great Britain for generations.
The K6 is a design classic up there with the likes of the Mini, the red post box and the Routemaster bus. A quintessential symbol of Britishness. This year the K6 kiosk is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its arrival on the country’s highways and byways.
Designed by architectural legend Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of George V, the K6 is the perfect blend of style and convenience - connecting people for decades before the mobile phone had even been thought of.
It is, in short a genius piece of design that has helped shape our nation in the past century. And, of course, in Hull and East Yorkshire our K6 phone boxes are even more special sporting the cream paint instead of the red that the rest of the country has - due to our independent phone network.
Our Judges
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Tommy Coyle
Hull-born boxing legend Tommy is one of Hull's sporting greats. He was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of Hull in 2025.
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Emma Hardy MP
Hull West and Haltemprice MP Emma has championed women's health and reducing school uniform costs.
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Liz Carter
Girlguider and charity bake sale organiser extraordinaire Liz is one of KCOM's committed community.
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Marcus Skeet
'The Hull Boy' Marcus ran the length of the UK raising money for mental health.
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Gemma Oaten
Star of stage and screen, Gemma has helped transform lives with vital work for charity.
Nominations are now closed and we will soon be announcing our Hometown Heroes who have made a big difference in their community
After careful consideration by our judging panel, we're proud to announce the first of nine local legends who will have their names immortalised on our iconic cream K6 kiosks across the city.
Meet them below.
Tommy Coyle
Hull-born boxing legend Tommy is one of Hull’s sporting greats.
Making his name in the ring, he became Commonwealth Lightweight Champion in 2018, before hanging up his gloves in 2020 to pursue a successful business career. He now runs his own TC60 gyms on Humber Street and at Hessle’s Bridgehead Business Park.
Since retiring from boxing Tommy has launched his own sporting foundation and led multiple initiatives for underprivileged children, including a mobile boxing gym, school uniform giveaways and his annual Christmas in the Community campaign to help struggling Hull families.
Named an Honorary Freeman of the City of Hull in 2025, Tommy is everything that’s great about Hull - combining grit and fierce determination mixed with community spirit and a desire to make a difference.
For more information about Tommy Coyle Foundation and TC60 gyms visit tc60hull.co.uk
Lewie Coyle
Part of Hull’s sporting first family, Lewie fulfilled every football fan's dream when he joined his hometown club as a player in 2020.
The versatile right back started his footballing career at Leeds United before joining Fleetwood Town on loan and then returning home to Hull City, becoming The Tigers’ captain in 2022.
When not helping the Tigers to chase promotion, he's helping to inspire the next generation of Hull’s sporting stars through his Lewis Coyle Football Academy.
He said: “I am so passionate about providing children with opportunities to pursue their dreams. Having had supportive parents who believed in me as a young child with a dream, I understand that not everyone gets the same chance.
“That's why I am creating a space and environment to help people realise their potential, not just in sports but in life.”
For more information about the Lewie Coyle Football Academy visit lewiecoylefootballacademy.com
Gemma Oaten
Actress, campaigner, ambassador – Gemma has packed a lot into her career so far. From starring roles in shows such as Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Holby City to her essential work raising awareness of eating disorders through her SEED charity, Gemma’s a true Hometown Hero helping to improve lives across Hull and beyond.
Gemma Oaten has come a long way from being the little girl dreaming of stardom while belting out Disney classics in her parents’ front room
The former Malet Lambert pupil always knew that it was on the stage and screen where she wanted to be.
After gaining a place at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, and graduating from the Drama Studio London, Gemma landed the starring roles on Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Holby City that have made her one of Hull’s most famous acting exports. Her more recent role as a BBC radio presenter has also kept us entertained over the airwaves.
But it’s her work off camera, helping to transform the lives of countless people struggling with eating disorders; providing support, raising awareness, lobbying policy makers and giving hope in the darkest of times, that makes Gemma a true Hometown Hero.
As the CEO and Patron of Hull-based eating disorder support service SEED, Gemma has spoken publicly about her own experiences of living with an eating disorder and now uses that knowledge to help others.
You can find out more about Gemma’s fantastic work with SEED here.
Robert Aramayo
Acclaimed actor Robert Aramayo has blazed a trail from right here in East Hull to Hollywood.
From Malet Lambert School via Hull Truck to BAFTA-winning success, Robert has put Hull firmly on the red carpet, inspiring the next generation of the city’s creative talent.
Robert, who recently won a BAFTA award for his performance in the British film ‘I Swear’, said: “It’s great isn’t it? I grew up around here and I remember walking down this street to get my bus to school – and now there’s a phone box with a picture of me on the corner. It’s mad really isn’t it!
“I’m really lucky to be from Hull and really proud of the city. It’s such a beautiful place to be from and the people here are so down to earth and supportive. So thank you to everyone who nominated me.”
The former Malet Lambert School pupil was also named as a patron of Tourette’s Syndrome Inclusion in the Community (T.I.C. Yorkshire), a charity supporting people living with Tourette’s Syndrome and Tic disorders. Tourette's Awareness Month 2026 starts on Friday, 15 May, and aims to raise awareness of the conditions that were highlighted in Robert’s film ‘I Swear’.
For more information about TIC Yorkshire visit www.tic-yorkshire.co.uk
Marcus Skeet
Known online as The Hull Boy, Marcus is an English endurance runner and influencer.
Marcus has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for mental health charity Mind by running the length of Britain - from Land’s End to John O’Groats, was awarded a Pride of Britain Award in 2025. The 18-year-old has also recently been a judge for KCOM’s Hometown Heroes campaign, helping to find Hull and East Yorkshire’s most inspiring local heroes.
Marcus said: “It’s absolutely amazing - and a bit surreal - to see myself on the side of a phone box just a stone’s throw away from the MKM Stadium. My grandad was a huge City fan and I was brought up as one, so the club means so much to me. It’s fantastic to think of all those Hull fans walking past my phone box on the way to a match and seeing my face peering out! My grandad passed away a few weeks ago, but I know he would’ve been so proud seeing it.
“Being a judge on Hometown Heroes and hearing all the fantastic stories of what people have achieved was really humbling, so to be part of it is a huge honour. It was really inspiring and shows how many good people there are in the world – and in Hull."
Cath Lyon
Nursing legend Cath Lyon has dedicated her life to helping others.
Known as “Mama Cath” at Hull Royal Infirmary, where she spent nearly 62 years caring for patients – she finally retired at the age of 80 in 2026, after a distinguished career representing the very best of the NHS.
The kiosk dedicated to Cath, who’s spent more than 60 years of her life caring for patients at Hull Royal Infirmary before retiring at the age of 80, can be seen near her home on Kingston Road, Willerby, outside Springhead Park Golf Club.
She said: “It’s absolutely wonderful. I can’t believe it to be honest. It’s lovely to think that so many people thought of nominating me. I’ve loved every minute of my time as a nurse in Hull and it’s lovely to think that people appreciate it too.”
Jess Park
England International Jess Park is a huge inspiration to aspiring young footballers across the region.
Raised in Brough, Jess’s journey to soccer stardom began as a youngster at Elloughton Blackburn FC, before quickly rising through the ranks to play for Manchester City and then Manchester United.
A part of England’s UEFA Euro 2025 winning squad, Jess is a dynamic midfielder with a talent for the spectacular - a real footballing Hometown Hero.