Amberley Working Museum was packed full of retired pensioners eager to reminisce about their days as GPO and BT exchange telephonists.

Organisers were Fred Stanford and Elaine Dowdeswell, both museum volunteers and former Worthing telephonists.

Archive of memories

Mr Stanford said: "At the time Worthing went automatic, the manual telephone exchange at Worthing was the largest in the UK with up to 200 operators employed.

"Apart from the social aspect of getting the ex-operators back together, many of whom had retired from operating over 40 years ago, we were interested in building our archive of memories and pictures of that important era in our local telecommunications history."

Part of the Connected Earth Gallery exhibition at the working museum focuses on manual telephone switching, which was the way telephone calls were connected for the majority of customers in the Worthing area until 1969.

Telephonists had the job of literally picking up a call and connecting the person with the number they wanted.

Best job ever

Mrs Dowdeswell said: "It was my first job straight out of school.

"Lots of other girls were doing it, so I thought I would try it, too.

"It was the best job I ever had. The camaraderie was just fantastic, and the pay was good, too.

"It was really lovely to be reunited with so many familiar faces."

Personality girls

Over the years, Worthing telephone operators scored high in national "personality girl" competitions and their decorated floats won many prizes at Worthing carnivals.

Discipline was strict to ensure efficient service to subscribers, no talking was allowed between operators working on the exchange and supervisors stood behind the staff to ensure they were working at all times.

"If an operator wanted to go the toilet, she had to put her hand up and ask 'for an urgent' and wait for someone to relieve her at her position," said Mr Stanford.

"Despite this strict working environment, the chief supervisor for the exchange for many years, Miss Marion Brice,s who retired in 1964, was so respected by the staff that 20 years later in 1984, a reunion was held in her honour."

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