THIS year marks the end of an era in York as telephone exchange operators prepare to answer their last calls.
There has been a telephone exchange in York since 1886 but after December 31 this year customer service operators will no longer be based in the city.
BT is streamlining its customer service operation and the York service, based in the Stonebow building, will move to Leeds and Doncaster.
A party to mark the historic passing of BT customer service in York was held in the Groves Working Men's Club, in Penleys Grove Street.
BT team manager Ashley Heys said: "December 31 will be a bit of a sad day.
"There has been a telephone exchange in York since 1886. We had a disco and expected about 200 people to turn up, including those who left years ago."
Mr Heys, 48, of Rawcliffe, left school in Knaresborough at 16 in 1971 to join BT as an apprentice. He will be going on to look after his restaurant concerns in York, including the Bengal Brasserie in Goodramgate.
Updated: 10:16 Saturday, October 18, 2003
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