Two former coworkers from a nuclear power station reunite in a care home after 20 years, rekindling their friendship.
Now, after two decades, they have reunited. Adrian moved to Down Hall care home, located in Bradwell-on-Sea, a month after Alan had moved there. Adrian recognized Alan right away, and was happy to see a familiar face after so many years.
Adrian began in 1961, working maintenance for two years before moving to operations. Alan, nicknamed Bruvvy, also worked there. They now reminisce about the past and attend care home activities, including a gentleman’s club where they play cards and taste different whiskies.
Since they moved in, other power station colleagues have been visiting them. Louise Simon even organized a small reunion for Adrian and Alan, wanting them to meet old friends. Ian Drinkwater and Bert Foss also attended, all of whom worked together.
Ian brought power station mementos, including a dummy fuel element used in a reactor, with him, having started at the plant in 1976. Old photos and newspaper clippings brought back memories. Alan and Adrian swapped stories and laughed with Ian and Bert.
The power station, one of the first UK nuclear plants, opened on July 1, 1962. It stopped operating in March 2002, and in 2018, it began “care and maintenance” status, a landmark change as the first in the UK to do so.
Alan said it was great chatting and seeing old pictures, especially one of him playing the glockenspiel at work.