Thorpy   10 #1 Posted January 20, 2020 I started working for what was then Post Office Telephones (much later to become B T) in April 1962. I was then in an overhead gang of four or five men. The job entailed putting up telephone poles, digging the holes first, whilst the foreman "dressed" the pole - putting on arms. braces, combiners, spindles, insulators and steps. At that time we would then be erecting open cadmium copper wires from the distribution pole (D P ), To wherever the subscriber end was. I went on to spend most of my working life working for what was to become B T. I wonder if anyone out there has any photos of the old gangs or the Commer Karriers we used to use? I've tried Picture Sheffield, but no luck. Any stories would be good, I can certainly tell a few, there were some real characters around at the time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Runningman   142 #2 Posted January 20, 2020 Best of luck with this Thorpy Sorry but can't help !  RS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
fatrajah   10 #3 Posted January 21, 2020 I'm afraid I don't have any photos, I did spend a couple of months with the O/H gangs in the winter of 1965/66 during my time as a TTA. The names I remember are Eric Ludlam (former ABA middleweight champion), Jack Atter, Len Meadows, Ted? Rodgers, Ray? Pettit, &"Cassius" Clay. As you say there were some real characters in those days. I remember Jack Atter bursting into song in the middle of the road giving a sort of Black & White Minstrels rendition of "Gimme Dat Ole Time Religion". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
pattricia   574 #4 Posted January 21, 2020 I do think we should have a special thread for photos. I’ve heard quite a few people ask for them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
TedW   14 #5 Posted January 21, 2020 There may be some photos of interest here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sheffdave/collections/72157607505969472/  Thanks TedW, not the era I'm looking for, but there are certainly a lot of faces I can recognise, and some people I worked with and new very well. They bring back long forgotten memories As I said I worked for B T for most of my working life, so if anyone has more photos or memories, I'd love to see or hear them. Thanks again. T.   7 hours ago, fatrajah said: I'm afraid I don't have any photos, I did spend a couple of months with the O/H gangs in the winter of 1965/66 during my time as a TTA. The names I remember are Eric Ludlam (former ABA middleweight champion), Jack Atter, Len Meadows, Ted? Rodgers, Ray? Pettit, &"Cassius" Clay. As you say there were some real characters in those days. I remember Jack Atter bursting into song in the middle of the road giving a sort of Black & White Minstrels rendition of "Gimme Dat Ole Time Religion". I remember most of these lads, and came across them regularly. At the time I worked at first out of New Street. then for a while out in the Hope Valley. garaging at Beauchief and sometimes Grindleford, going in to West Street on Fridays for pay and stores. Later I worked out of Maltravers Road for a number of years, and then Attercliffe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Runningman   142 #6 Posted January 21, 2020 This post could run for a long time as I start to reminisce about some of the names mentioned. Eric Ludlam whose nickname was Lobby, a fiery character at times, but a heart of gold ! Jack Atter whose GPO/BT career came second to his bird watching interest. Len Meadows tragically succumbed to Dementia. Dick Pettit & John Clay I remember.  Alan Atter, Jack Robinson, Ted Haythornthwaite, Tony Houcher, Barry Bamford, brothers Terry & Bill South all well remembered. I could go on and on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Mossway   15 #7 Posted January 21, 2020 Have you tried Open Reach to see if they have an archive ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Runningman   142 #8 Posted January 22, 2020 Good evening TedW and thanks for those amazing photos Why do faces remain in your memory, but names disappear ?  Excuse me, but I must mention some of the lads I recognised, Hope they are all well, no doubt there could be some who are no longer with us !  Dermot Mcdonell  Roger Fairhurst  Geoff Mculloch  Tony Downing  Roger Crofts  Pete Hammond  Lol Wear  Roger Mills  Barry Stephenson  Doug Atter  John Weldon  Pete Cowlishaw  John Rotherham  Bill Nundy  Dave Fisher  Ray Brown  Tony Hardwick  Alan Plant Pat Clay  Harry Strutt  Thanks for the memories !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
St Petre   85 #9 Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) Were British Telecom In Sheffield in 1962, rather than the GPO (phones etc) ? Edited January 22, 2020 by St Petre add Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
bazza63   12 #10 Posted January 23, 2020 Does anyone remember Graham Panton, 0r Jack PLatts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Thorpy   10 #11 Posted January 23, 2020 On 21/01/2020 at 20:56, Mossway said: Have you tried Open Reach to see if they have an archive ? Thanks I'll look into that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Thorpy   10 #12 Posted January 23, 2020 In the early 1900's it was the National Telephone Company, N T C. Still to be seen on some poles during the sixties and seventies. This later became Post Office Telephones, and then eventually British Telecom 16 hours ago, St Petre said: Were British Telecom In Sheffield in 1962, rather than the GPO (phones etc) ?  There was a saying among the old hands that G P O stood for god's poor orphans! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...