MANWEB – Cable Jointing Past & Present by Patrick & Andy O’ Malley

Published 23 Jan 2020

• uploaded by Chris Dodds - Sales & Marketing Manager with Thorne & Derrick International

Jointing is in the O’Malley DNA and from their family photo album we are proud to be able to display the following photographs contributed by Andy O’Malley.

The cable jointing photo’s are from the late 1990’s and show Andy’s father Patrick O’Malley, a MANWEB cable jointer for over 30 years, jointing 33kV PILC cable.

MANWEB (Merseyside & North Wales Electricity Board) was the regional electricity supplier and distributor for Merseyside, North Wales and parts of Cheshire in the UK.

Patrick started his career as a truck driver/labourer then managed the digging gang and progressed to cable jointers mate.

After study and training Patrick became a cable jointer (accepting a cut in pay) whilst supporting a wife plus two children (plus some other family members along the way).

Young Andy had the choice of three career paths as a school-leaver : welder, garage mechanic or cable jointer. Today, Andy is an international class EHV Cable Jointer/Splicer.

More of that later.

Andy remembers that no matter how tired and dirty his Dad came home he was always smiling and talked with great passion about his trade.

Patrick is now retired and ended his career with Andy in Canada, ” the perfect ending he said, I started my career with him, he ended his with me,” Andy says.

Lets end with some advice from Patrick for aspiring cable jointers, “stay true to yourself, don’t try to run before you can crawl and try listening to the guys who’ve been doing this many years. Who knows you might just learn something.”

Patrick O’Malley – Cable Jointer

Shown here is a Barry Harrison 33kV PILC (solids) Copper Can Breach Joint, (BICC G38 filled can and compound filled outer joint box).

Pictured : 1978 Leyland Sherpa Van – MANWEB Electricity

1. EHV Cable Jointing

MANWEB Liverpool – George Deakin and Eddie Burnett at at the top of Burlington St, junction off Scotty Road.

2. MANWEB Cable Jointer

Cable jointer outside Cemetery gates off Arundel Avenue, Liverpool 8 in 1970.

3. Gerald Haughan 1974

Mr. G. Haughan, C.ENg., M.I.E.E., Liverpool District Engineer then Later Board Deputy Chief Engineer in 1978.

4. Islington Place Single Phase Transformers – MANWEB Liverpool

5. Substation – Slate Panel Board in Wavertree Clock Tower Substation

6. MANWEB Staff – Queensferry Stores 

➡ Visit MANWEB Remembered for more MANWEB era photography.

MANWEB Today

MANWEB was purchased by Scottish Power in 1995, and subsequently become SP Manweb plc. The Manweb name continued to be used alongside the Scottish Power logo on home and retail publications up until mid-2007, when it was replaced by “ScottishPower”.

However, the Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales electricity distributor continues as SP Manweb plc, which is managed along with the Scottish transmission operators SP Distribution plc and SP Transmission plc as SP Energy Networks. A fourth company, SP Power Systems Ltd maintains the distribution networks for these each of these companies.

Thorne & Derrick

Specialist Electrical Distributor

Established since 1985, T&D distribute the most extensive range of LV, MV & HV Cable Jointing, Terminating, Pulling & Installation Equipment – contact us today for a competitive quotation.

Key Products : MV Joints & Terminations, Cable Cleats, Duct Seals, Cable Transits, Underground Cable Protection, Jointing Tools, Feeder Pillars, Cable Duct, Earthing & Lightning Protection, Electrical Safety, Cable Glands, Arc Flash Protection & Fusegear.

Distributors for : 3M, Pfisterer, Nexans Euromold, Elastimold, Catu, Roxtec, Emtelle, Centriforce, Lucy Zodion, Alroc, Hivotec, Cembre, Prysmian, Ellis Patents, ABB & Furse.

Jointers blog

Subscribe now to our POWER NEWSLETTER– a monthly email circulation packed with news, projects, videos, technical tips, training information, promotions, webinars, career opportunities and white papers.

Includes access to our popular JOINTERS BLOG with contributions from utility professionals, linesmen and cable jointers working on MV HV EHV cables and overhead lines typically at 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and up to 132kV.

15,000+ Subscribers. ➡