After almost 50 years of loyal service to South Staffordshire Plc, it’s time for Peter Lynes to hang up his hi-vis and take off his safety boots for the last time as he steps into retirement. It’s been a memorable journey for Peter with many achievements unlocked, memories created, and friends made along the way.
Peter began his career as a Trainee Waterworks Operative at South Staffs Water in 1974 when he was just 18 years old. Upon starting, Peter reaped the benefits of a comprehensive training programme, attending Bolton Technical College on a block-release basis to study ‘Waterworks Practice’, a City & Guilds qualification. Once completed, he went on to study the Advanced HNC qualification and was awarded the City & Guilds Silver medal for ‘Student of the Year’, along with the Peart Trophy.
Peter, 68, said: “When I first came to work at South Staffs Water, I felt welcomed in and that I had found my ‘second family’. The company paid for me to complete seven years of education, even paying for my first twenty driving lessons and letting me put ‘L Plates’ on a company van!”
For the next eighteen years, Peter had an extensive career at South Staffs Water, making an impact on a wide range of departments in roles such as Water Regulations Inspector, Water Regulations Manager and Contracts Supervisor, to name a few! Peter also found love when, in 1980, he met his wife of 41 years, Kay, who he has two children with. Peter said: “I met my wife Kay when she worked in the Green Lane Drawing Office in Walsall, having been transferred from the old Sheepcote Street head office in Birmingham. She still works for the company in the HR Team and, between us, we have clocked up nearly 100 years of service!”
Peter made a significant contribution to the birth of the OnSite Pipelines and Civil Engineering division when he gained a well-deserved promotion to a contract’s Superintendent role in 1992. He said: “Working in this role gave me the confidence to propose a change when contractors were failing to deliver services. I suggested that we could form our own, in-house contracting business to take over where an old contractor left off and to my surprise, I was appointed as the General Manager of ‘Underground Pipeline Services Ltd’ (UPLS), which is now OnSite’s Pipelines and Civils division, based in Tipton – and seemingly the world!”
Peter became Director of UPLS and later, Business Development Director, a role he stayed in until 2011, when UPLS was merged with Integrated Water Services, another South Staffordshire Plc Group business. This saw Peter appointed as Bid Manager/ Key Account Manager until a restructure in 2016 required Peter to assist with the delivery of the ‘Bounty’ Repair and Maintenance contract with South Staffs Water – an almost full-circle career move! Here, Peter spent some time in the Cambridge Water offices and managed OnSite’s Metering Services team whilst also providing business development and bid support.
It’s been almost 50 years of hard work and dedicated service, so how does Peter feel about hanging up those safety boots? “I had some brilliant bosses and mentors over my years with the South Staffs Group of businesses and this will be a big transition for me but I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life,” Peter said.
He continued: “It’s an opportunity to pursue my other interests, such as travelling, DIY, gardening, as well as my routine morning gym and Costa Coffee sessions! I also have two children, one of which works in the water industry, and I’m sure they will be keeping me busy with their DIY issues! They are both getting married in the near future, so that will keep me busy too!”
Ady Brown, Operations Director, said: “On behalf of the entire team at OnSite Pipelines and Civil Engineering, I want to thank Pete for everything he has done for us. We remain grateful for his contributions and the impact he has had on the business. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
