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There's not many people who can claim to have worked the same job for nearly half-a-century.

But one woman, known for "always serving with a smile" and her banter with customers, has worked at KFC in Somerset for a remarkable 41 years.

Pauline Richards, 68, continues to serve fried chicken at its Taunton restaurant and has become a cult hero in the town.

Over 41 years, she has worked as a cleaner, cashier, supervisor, manager and a team leader.

The beloved employee even revealed children, regular diners, residents and even cricketers would call her "Miss KFC".

(Image: Len Copland)

She said: "When I go out for a break, children would shout over to me 'Hello Miss KFC' and call me 'Mum' and 'Nan'.

"Even on a Friday and Saturday night here, you get customers and some young boys start singing my name out and they are pleased to see me.

"When I'm not in, they (the customers) are asking where I am.

"If I've been out, I get people asking why I'm not working tonight."

Pauline recalled to Somerset Live about how she began working for KFC in the 1970s to support her friend at the former branch on East Reach.

"I started with a friend of mine called Roz who worked at East Reach in the old KFC", she said.

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"She was a bit nervous of going into the old building because it was creepy.

"She asked the general manager, Mr Walker, if it was OK for me to come into the store and work with her. He agreed.

"I worked for a few months with Roz and when she decided to work on the front serving customers with her sister, Rose, I did the cleaning temporally."

After initially becoming a cleaner, Pauline became a cashier at the front and took hungry customer's orders before helping to cook the food.

She recalled how cooking methods were different nearly 40 years ago, remarking: "We cooked the hot wings in the pots in those days and breaded them all up and put the BBQ sauce on."

(Image: Len Copland)

During her employment, she worked her way up to becoming a manager for two-and-half years.

When the East Reach branch closed, she moved to the current KFC on East Street and decided to take it a little easier and become a team member.

Pauline explained how a typical shift sees her serve customers, prepare orders, look after customers and clean the restaurant.

The 68-year-old said she always aims to "help them out to the best I can".

This is why she says, she enjoys her job.

She commented: "A lot of people say, 'don't ever leave'.

"They say you know what you're talking about, you help me out, and you're always friendly.

"I always make sure I get peoples' orders right. I think that is a good thing for the customers."

Pauline said she would do "anything" for customers and recalled a time where someone said she felt "intimidated by some youngsters" and couldn't enter the store.

To help her, Pauline received her order and hand delivered her food outside of the branch.

The customer's reaction touched Pauline, as she recalled: "She thanked me very much. She sent a letter to say thank you.

"The next time she came in, she gave me a box of chocolates which meant a lot for me."

Her constant presence at the East Street store over the years has earned Pauline celebrity status in Taunton.

"I love my job. Customers I have always spoken to and I have been friendly with and I have always tried to help as best I can and this job has always suited my life." - Pauline Richards reflects on her 41 year KFC career

The 68-year-old also revealed her favourite food at KFC is either popcorn chicken or a chicken zinger burger.

One of Pauline's many talents is the ability to remember customers' orders to either remind them of a previous meal or pre-prepare an order for a regular diner.

The loyal server puts this remarkable attribute down to the fact she is "always working" at the store and "I'm always on the go all the time".

After 41 years of loyal service to the fast food joint, Pauline has said there are a range of reasons why she isn't thinking of retirement yet.

(Image: Len Copland)

"KFC haven't done anything wrong for me and I think they are good to work for", an emotional Pauline remarked.

"I haven't had any complaints. If I ever had a problem about certain things, I spoke to my manager.

"I do like working with people here and I can't say I don't. We have a good little group here.

"I love my job. Customers I have always spoken to and I have been friendly with and I have always tried to help as best I can and this job has always suited my life."

"I do want to say thank you to my customers that I have been friends with and I really appreciate it."

"I just think she's a treasure" - General manager pays tribute to "loyal and fun" Pauline

(Image: Len Copland)

The store's general manager, Alice Yarde, said she's known Pauline ever since she started working at KFC in 1992.

She said: "I just think she's a treasure. I cannot imagine a day being here without her.

"I know obviously I will be one day. But when I first started here, she was my second mum.

"If I have any problems, Pauline is always someone I would be able to talk to."

Alice praised Pauline for her customer service and how she always seems to know what the customer wants to order.

"You need to see her with the customers to see how good she is and how she is with customers", she said.

"Pauline knows (what they would order) and you think of how many people she serves, she will know."

The pair also share a close bond - Pauline set up Alice with her husband after he approached Pauline to ask if her colleague was single.

Alice recalled: "Before I went on a first date with my husband, I asked Pauline 'is that boy alright, what do you think?' because she knows everyone in Taunton.

"She said 'yeah he's alright'."

Pauline interjected with: "I was serving on the till and he said 'I fancy that woman and I want to take her out'.

(Image: Len Copland)

"I said 'don't talk to me, speak to the young lady there!'. She was so shy and they later got together and got married."

Alice called Pauline her "second mum" and said their shifts together are always fun.

"We just have a laugh", she said.

"It's not the easiest job in the world and we don't work the greatest hours but if we're working with good people and having banter with the customers, time flies and it's just good fun."

Alice said her colleagues "just adore her" and "love working with Pauline" and everyone sees her as a "second mum".

"Some young lads who normally would not be that responsive to the older generation, they would say 'Pauline what can I get for you' or 'let me make your tea' and they are just lovely.

"It's delightful to see."

When asked how she would describe Alice in one word, she said: "The main thing would be 'loyal'.

"She is loyal and fun."

Do you have any special memories of Pauline? Do you know any other local heroes or cult figures? Do you have a Taunton or West Somerset story to share? Get in touch: michael.taylor@reachplc.com, tweet @JournoMikeT or call 01935 709742.

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