A Lighthearted Look Back at Ted Townsend’s 40 Years at Street Crane
April 1, 2026
When Ted Townsend turned up for his very first shift on 10th March 1986, he probably thought he was here for a job, not a four‑decade career. Yet here we are, 40 years later, celebrating a man who’s become part of the furniture (in the nicest possible way).
Back then, Street Crane was a very different place. Ted started out on the night shift as an electrician, paired up with Dave Moss, and quickly discovered that the company was… well… smaller. A lot smaller. No hoist works.
No end carriage shop. And the steel stock? Outside. All of it. In the weather. Times were simpler and probably colder.
After those early night‑shift years Ted went on to join the international installation team, commissioning and testing cranes across the globe. From Dubai and Qatar to Russia and even the Falkland Islands, Ted represented Street Crane with the same steady reliability he showed at home. His passport filled up almost as fast as his toolbox, and his global experience became a huge part of the value and depth of knowledge he brought back to the team.
Over the years, Ted gathered more memories than tools in an electrician’s van, but one moment stands out:
the day he was asked to take on the electrical foreman role after Fred Wilkinson retired. A big responsibility and proof that Ted wasn’t just good at his job — he was trusted, respected, and probably very patient.
And of course, no look back at the old days would be complete without a classic Street Crane story. Ted reminded us of one involving our chairman, Martin Street, who once asked someone to climb into the boot of his wife’s Jaguar just to check whether the interior light actually went off when it closed. What you had to do in those days, eh!
Now, after 40 years of dedicated service, Ted is finally hanging up the overalls and stepping into retirement on 1st April 2026 (and no, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke — we checked).
As for his retirement plans? Ted’s keeping things open‑ended: a few ideas of his own, plus whatever Pauline has quietly pencilled into his future. What he is sure about is that the holidays will increase, and the alarm‑clock use will dramatically decrease.
In fact, when we asked what he’s looking forward to on the very first Monday morning of retirement, his answer was pure Ted:
“Just being able to get up when I want and chilling out.”
A well‑deserved lie‑in if ever there was one.
We couldn’t let him leave without asking for some sage advice for the apprentices. In classic Ted style, he kept it simple:
“Keep listening, concentrate, and learn from your elders.”
Solid wisdom — and delivered with just the right amount of “I’ve seen a thing or two.”
After four decades of hard work, dry humour, steady leadership, worldwide experience, and the kind of reliability you wish you could bottle, Ted leaves behind a legacy and an office full of colleagues who will miss him dearly.
Ted, thank you for the laughs, the graft, and the 40 years of loyal service. Enjoy every minute of your well‑earned retirement and that first blissful Monday morning.
