One 15 August 2016, Rashid and Phyllis started a sit-in at a phone box in Billericay, and went down in history.

Aggrieved that The Man was taking away their important link with the outside world – because (and you might find this news difficult to swallow) not everybody has a mobile phone or access to the internet – they proved that not every hero wears a cape.

Also, there are few enough public toilets around these days, nor places for prostitutes to advertise their services, so there’s that as well.

Essex Live: Pair of pensioners stage sit-in at phone box to prevent The Man from taking it away

Luckily, Essex Live was there, live-blogging the entire dreadful episode as The Man was forced to resort to all manner of dirty tricks to get our intrepid heroes to pack up and go home.

For one long, hot summer’s afternoon, the aged twosome defied authority and the march of progress, being the only people who gave a monkey’s in a world that no longer cares.

You will also note that despite the pressures put upon him in these most trying of conditions, Rashid is obeying the knee-height ‘No Smoking’ sign.

But in the end, when Phyllis and Rashid’s backs were turned, The Man nipped in with his angle grinder and big lorry with a crane, and now the town of Billericay is light to the tune of one phone box.

Will the world forget the example of Rashid and Phyllis? Those two sprightly pensioners who put their foot down and cried “ENOUGH!” when a giant corporation bullied its way down their street? The only people who dared to say “NO” when BT ignored their 12-signature petition?

Yes. Yes we will. But give it another year or so.

RIP PHONE BOX U R IN HEVEN NOW WITH DA ANGLES N PRINCESS DI SLEEP TIHGT SWEET PRINCE xxx

#PrayForRashid