A Southampton man has rediscovered a stunning photograph he took of the landmark Faraday Tower during an electrical storm in the 1970s.

The iconic university building – currently undergoing demolition – was home to Southampton University’s engineering department for more than 40 years.

Barry Bailey was a lab technician at the university and worked in Faraday for almost its entire lifespan.

He captured the image from the upstairs window of his family home, in Mayfield Road, in August 1975.

“It was the Friday fireworks night of Cowes Week, and it was a very hot and humid night,” he said.

“There was a huge electrical storm – with no rain – at about 1am.

“I took photos for a good hour with a 35mm camera, pointing and hoping for the best. As you can imagine, most of three spools of colour film was wasted.”

Barry, 79, started work at the university as a lab technician in 1966 – three years after the Faraday Tower opened.

He worked in Faraday until its closure in the mid-2000s and was one of the last two employees in the building, tasked with the final equipment clear-out.

Barry is still employed in the same role as lab technician in the school of Electronics and Computer Science.

He’s the university’s longest-serving employee, with 58 years under his belt.

His stunning photo of the Faraday Tower under lightning was used on the front cover of the Electrical Engineering department’s prospectus in the late 1970s.