Resettlement Success: From REME to Line Patroller
Category: Success Stories
Publish date: 03/10/2019
Steve Helme went through some harrowing experiences in the forces during the Northern Ireland troubles.
But, he made many friendships and enjoyed the camaraderie. He said he has continued to enjoy making friends and now works in a small team in his job with UK Power Networks which keeps the power on for eight million homes and businesses across the East, South East and London.
The Cambridge line patroller, 64, based in Waterbeach, told his father at the age of 18 he was going to go and sign up. He jumped on a train to Preston, near where he lived, walked into the first recruiting office and joined the Army back in 1972.
Stationed at Oakington Barracks with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, he was trained as a gunsmith then sent to Londonderry, Belfast and then Armagh over a two year period, maintaining small guns and machine guns.
He said: “It was terrible really, you didn’t know if people were going to give you a cup of tea or throw something at you, but you were with blokes in the same boat.”
In 1978 with a wife and child he left the Army and was offered three jobs. Steve decided to work for Eastern Electricity learning a craft as a linesman and working outdoors. He has enjoyed the work ever since, saying there is no way he could work in an office.
In 1986 he joined the Royal Signals in the Territorial Army in Cambridge and was with them eight years. At one point he was put on standby to go out to the Falklands.
Search "UK Power Networks" on
RightJob to find our latest roles!