Daniel Training Ctr, NORWEB

[Tom 256]

NORWEB had an electrical training centre in Chorley, Little Carr lane known as the Daniel Training Ctr.

I understand it was built in the 1970's and demolished in 2010 (ish). It was an outstanding place of training covering everything from appliance repair to underground lead wipe joints and overhead lines.
Full scale mock ups of aspects of construction in order to teach that all important skillset of getting a cable from 'A' to 'B'. It even had sports fields for the lads who stayed in the residential side!

I served my apprenticeship thereas well as all forms of assessments passed. I would like to hear from anyone with memories or pictures from time spent there. Pictures from within would be good to see again.

 

[Phil Hall]

NORWEB had an electrical training centre in Chorley, Little Carr lane known as the Daniel Training Ctr.

I understand it was built in the 1970's and demolished in 2010 (ish). It was an outstanding place of training covering everything from appliance repair to underground lead wipe joints and overhead lines.
Full scale mock ups of aspects of construction in order to teach that all important skillset of getting a cable from 'A' to 'B'. It even had sports fields for the lads who stayed in the residential side!

I served my apprenticeship thereas well as all forms of assessments passed. I would like to hear from anyone with memories or pictures from time spent there. Pictures from within would be good to see again.

Hi Tom. I served my apprenticeship with Norweb as an electrician from 1969 to 1974(?), I was based in Carlisle. I spent a few months at Chorley over that period sometimes residing in the centre and other times in B&B's locally. It was a great place to learn with great workshops, facilities and tutors. It had its own restaurant and even a bar, they even had a morning cup of tea brought to your room in the morning as a wake up call, happy days. I am now living in Vancouver these last 50 years but have very good memories of Chorley. Sorry to hear it was demolished in 2010. Phil.
PS sorry no pictures, long before smartphones.

 

[Tom256]

Hi Tom. I served my apprenticeship with Norweb as an electrician from 1969 to 1974(?), I was based in Carlisle. I spent a few months at Chorley over that period sometimes residing in the centre and other times in B&B's locally. It was a great place to learn with great workshops, facilities and tutors. It had its own restaurant and even a bar, they even had a morning cup of tea brought to your room in the morning as a wake up call, happy days. I am now living in Vancouver these last 50 years but have very good memories of Chorley. Sorry to hear it was demolished in 2010. Phil.
PS sorry no pictures, long before smartphones.

Hi Phil. You must have been one of the first intakes to the ctr.

Really nice to hear from someone else who attended the ctr. I was there from 1980.
It was indeed a wonderful place from which I have so many fond memories. We had a lad in our intake who went on to play pro rugby league for Swinton. Strong guy and every so often we would go to the sports fields (yes it had sports fields) and he would batter us all in a game of rugby at lunch.

The facility had a jointing section and I recall doing lead wiped joints. One lad nearly set himself a blaze or something with a laddle of lead, he ran around screaming from what I recall as a rag he was using burnt. He did so whilst I unplugged his torch from the overhead gas line... he was fine, although as the instructor reminded him "unplug the gas torch before screaming". Snap out of it, get on with it. Wonderfully different days.
Overhead line training was done in Birmingham as nothing high enough at the ctr we were told. Pole climbing was done at the centre and so to was helicopter training for linesman.
A slight upgrade from todays training approach of "anyone want to sell me some pictures for my portfolio"

I have long searched for pictures and never found any for as you say no smart phones yet Phil you have ignited my desire to search once more.