I started work as a Trainee Technician (Apprentice) for Post Office Telecommunications on 13th August 1979. Having had a few weeks break since leaving school I attended a two day induction at Bernard Sunley Buildings, 49 Friar St. Reading. Two days later, rail warrant in hand, I headed to Taplow Station with instructions to report at 0845 to Mr Geoff Malthouse at Langley Telephone Engineering Centre. Neither of the two workplaces above exist any more, Langley TEC is now covered by a housing estate.
Yesterday after 43 years, 2 months, and 19 days I retired (early) from Openreach Ltd. PO Telecoms successor.
I between those two events I have:
- Been An engineer apprentice - trained in part at Bletchley Park.
- Been A Private Wires (Leased Lines) engineer.
- A field engineer trainer.
- Been An exchange/repeater station technician.
- Been A trained trainer.
- Helped build a 21st Century network.
- Been declared surplus to requirements.
- Been a Private Circuits / Ethernet repair technician again.
- Been pushed into being a Fibre Ethernet Surveyor.
When I started it was a public service, considered to be a good job, and often an enjoyable place to work. None of those things are true now. I’ve been involved in some big changes in telecommunications, done some interesting things, and met and worked with some great people. It saddens me to see the way the company is being destroyed from within and the way the management (and I use the term loosely) treats its people.
It’s been an experience but enough is enough, there’s only so much excitement a man can take :-)
Now for more trips, more gigs, and more anything else that working got in the way of...
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