FIVE electricity workers are celebrating racking up 200 years’ service between them keeping lights on across the county.

The UK Power Network workers have now been recognised by their company for their long service.

Allen Aldridge, a senior project manager, Les Berry, network manager in the control centre, Graham Willard, a first responder at the scene of power cuts, Duncan Grover, a network maps technician and Dick Milton, operational policy engineer, all joined the company as teenagers in 1977, the year the nation celebrated the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, film series Star Wars made its day view in UK cinemas and the Ford Fiesta went on sale.

Now the men are experts in their fields for UK Power Networks which delivers electricity supplies across Sussex.

Mr Grover, 56, from Worthing, said the tools of the trade have changed massively since he joined the company in 1977.

He said: “We keep the company’s electrical records updated. Our engineers need to know where the cables are to carry out repairs and third parties need them to avoid hitting our cables.

“When I started work we didn’t have photocopiers, computers or the internet. We drew the plans in ink on plastic negatives and if you made a mistake you started again. It’s a lot easier today.”

Mr Aldridge, 56, from Worthing, who has held a number of roles, praised the job progression and diversity of roles in the company.

He joined as an apprentice linesman before moving up.

His first pay packet was £11 per week and £6 of the money went to his landlady.

He added: “In those days it was a lot of money. You were in the big time if you were taking home £5 a week.”

Basil Scarsella, chief executive at UK Power Networks, said: “Every year we recognise employees that have been with our business for 40 years or more.

“It’s part of being an employer of choice and doing the right thing by employees who have served us for a long time.

“It’s one of the evenings I look forward to because I catch up with individuals that have been with us a long time.”