AS England’s football team raised the World Cup in triumph, the BBC broadcasted in colour and the nation shopped with credit cards for the first time, Colin Dean was celebrating his own landmark.

In 1966, Colin became one of Sellafield's first apprentices at Hinton House in Risley.

At 16 he joined the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, which was later taken over by Sellafield, as a ‘drawing office apprentice’.

Now, 49 years later, Colin has bid farewell to the company following a week of apprentice celebrations for National Apprenticeship Week.

Colin, from Lowton, said: “From the age of 11 I had aspirations to become a draughtsman, creating technical drawings and plans for everything from spacecraft or industrial machinery, to structures such as office buildings or oil and gas pipelines.

“At school I had always enjoyed technical drawing so I saw an apprenticeship as a way of me realising my dreams."

Colin has seen many changes to Sellafield during his career like the creation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities on the West Cumbrian site.

Decades ago he could also tell how important someone was just by glancing at their office.

He added: “You could tell how senior somebody was by what furniture they had within their workspace.

"Before you got your own office you were allowed a piece of carpet under your chair and a book case for reference material.

“There was only one computer in the whole company and it was operated by punch cards."

Before parting ways with Sellafield, Colin took the final opportunity to share some words of wisdom with some of the companies’ new apprentices coming through the ranks.

Second year design engineering apprentice Ben Smith said: “It was fascinating to hear how things have changed, especially the use of technology.

“Colin also told me how when he first started, apprentices earned only £3 a week compared to the £180 we earn."

Sellafield plans to recruit a record 200 apprentices this year.

Ken McEwan, head of training, added: “We are dealing with some of the most complex engineering challenges in the world and some of the oldest nuclear buildings on the planet, the work here will take decades to complete. "That means we need a workforce that’s young and vibrant, who can build rewarding careers here."