LES Woodward remembers his first day working at the newly-reopened Williton service station: “It was a bank holiday and we ran out of fuel. I wondered what I had let myself in for!”

Now celebrating 40 years in the job, Les, 64, is a familiar figure to generations of motorists to whom has sold an estimated 100 million litres of fuel. The station’s manager, with a staff of five, he has seen massive changes in the business, which switched from Shell to Esso four years ago.

“When I started we wore white coats, put the fuel in customers’ cars and sold a few sweets in the shop,” Les said.

“Now, of course, it’s all self-service. We don’t even sell many car accessories but have become a convenience and grocery store, catering for a lot of people who haven’t come to buy fuel. We even have an alcohol licence.”

Les worked for Williton Motors and on a building site before moving to the service station in 1980 when it was re-opened by the County Stores. He celebrated 30 years of marriage to his wife Denise, who was a cashier at the service station, and they have two grown-up children, Robert and Natalie.

“I’ve no plans to retire - so long as I’m fit, I’ll carry on,” said Les, a motor-sport enthusiast and former autocross and rally driver. “When I started I thought I’d try the job to see how I liked it - and 40 years later, I’m still here!”

Photo: Terry Walker