Long serving KFC employee Pauline has worked in Taunton’s KFC for an incredible 47 years (Picture: SWNS)
A 74-year-old gran who is the world’s longest-serving KFC worker says the title has made her a local celebrity.
Pauline Richards has been an employee of the fried chicken franchise for 47 years, working at the chain’s store in Taunton, Somerset since 1978.
During that time she has served over six million drumsticks and a similar number of chicken wings, and tried her hand at practically every role in the store, working her way up from cleaner to manager.
The previous record was held by American Lorena Neely, who worked for the firm between 1976 and 2023.
Dedicated Pauline Richards, 68, started at the branch in Taunton in Somerset in 1978 (Picture: Len Copland / SWNS)
Pauline Richards with general manager, Alice Yarde (Picture: SWNS)
But Pauline, who has since broken it, says she has no plans to stop.
‘It all depends on what my body says,’ she told the Sun.
‘I have been lucky I keep well. I haven’t had much illness in my life.’
Pauline, who works with colleagues as young as 17, says the rapport she builds with customers is her favourite part of the job.
‘If you keep them happy, they are happy to come and see you. They come in and look for me and if I am on a break they ask for me to come down and say hello.’
The 74-year-old, who daughter and grandson have both worked alongside her at KFC at various points in their lives, says the experience has made her a local celebrity.
She also hasn’t needed to pay for a drink in the local pub for two years, she adds.
A KFC spokesperson said Pauline was ‘an important role model in her local community and created a legacy the Colonel would be proud of’.
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