Latest news with #PaulineRichards
The Independent
21-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Tributes after world's longest-serving KFC worker dies in UK town
The world's longest-serving KFC employee has died after working for the company for nearly 50 years. Tributes have been paid to Pauline Richards, known by many as Miss KFC, who first started working in the fried chicken chain's outlet in Taunton, Somerset, in 1978. She began her career as a cleaner but went on to take on almost every role in the store, including team leader and manager. Taunton Town Council described Mrs Richards as one of the town's 'most loved residents' and said she would be missed. 'All of us at Taunton Town Council are saddened to learn of the passing of one of Taunton's most loved residents, Pauline Richards, aka Miss KFC, the world's longest-serving member of KFC staff and a friendly, well-known face in our town,' the council said. 'She was an excited and incredibly deserving recipient of one of our civic awards back in March this year. 'Our thoughts are with her family and all of those who knew and loved her.' A KFC spokeswoman added: 'We're deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Pauline Richards. 'We are supporting Pauline's family, who have asked for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.'
The Independent
21-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Tributes paid after world's longest-serving KFC worker dies
Tributes have been paid to the world's longest-serving KFC employee who has died after working for the company for nearly 50 years. Pauline Richards, who was known by many as Miss KFC, first started working in the fried chicken chain's outlet in Taunton, Somerset, in 1978. She began her career as a cleaner but went on to take on almost every role in the store, including team leader and manager. Taunton Town Council described Mrs Richards as one of the town's 'most loved residents' and said she would be missed. 'All of us at Taunton Town Council are saddened to learn of the passing of one of Taunton's most loved residents, Pauline Richards, aka Miss KFC, the world's longest-serving member of KFC staff and a friendly, well-known face in our town,' the council said. 'She was an excited and incredibly deserving recipient of one of our civic awards back in March this year. 'Our thoughts are with her family and all of those who knew and loved her.' A KFC spokeswoman added: 'We're deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Pauline Richards. 'We are supporting Pauline's family, who have asked for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tributes paid after world's longest-serving KFC worker dies
Tributes have been paid to the world's longest-serving KFC employee who has died after working for the company for nearly 50 years. Pauline Richards, who was known by many as Miss KFC, first started working in the fried chicken chain's outlet in Taunton, Somerset, in 1978. She began her career as a cleaner but went on to take on almost every role in the store, including team leader and manager. Taunton Town Council described Mrs Richards as one of the town's 'most loved residents' and said she would be missed. 'All of us at Taunton Town Council are saddened to learn of the passing of one of Taunton's most loved residents, Pauline Richards, aka Miss KFC, the world's longest-serving member of KFC staff and a friendly, well-known face in our town,' the council said. 'She was an excited and incredibly deserving recipient of one of our civic awards back in March this year. 'Our thoughts are with her family and all of those who knew and loved her.' A KFC spokeswoman added: 'We're deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Pauline Richards. 'We are supporting Pauline's family, who have asked for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.'
BBC News
21-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Tributes paid to world's longest-serving KFC worker
Tributes have been paid to the world's longest-serving KFC employee, who has died after working in the same branch for 47 Richards, who was known by many as Miss KFC, first started working in Taunton's East Street restaurant in began her career as a cleaner but went on to take on almost every role in the store, including team leader and have poured in from Taunton residents and businesses who described her as a kind and compassionate woman who had a dry sense of humour. Taunton Town Council said it was saddened to learn of Ms Richards' death and described her as a friendly and well-known face in the town."She was an excited and incredibly deserving recipient of one of our Civic Awards back in March this year," a spokesperson for the council said."Our thoughts are with her family and all of those who knew and loved her." Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset in January, Ms Richards said she did not initially plan to stay at the branch forever but "just enjoyed it"."I love working here, I like meeting people and it's my favourite food, is chicken," she the time, manager Beth Sutton said customers would visit the branch every day purley to see Ms Richards."They call her Nan or Mrs Chicken or Mum," Ms Sutton said. "Everyone really comes in to see her mainly, just as much as they do the chicken." Hundreds of people have posted their condolences on social media after Ms Richard's death was announced."Pauline will never be forgotten," said Wendie Noble. "[I] had the pleasure of working with her at KFC when my children were younger. "[She was] such a kind and compassionate lady who never forgot you and always stopped for a chat."Amy Capon added: "She was a character, always made me chuckle, had a fantastic work relationship with my son also. Such sad news, but take comfort in the fact 90% of the town are grieving with you."The team at Spud Shack in Taunton said Ms Richards will be "missed by everyone" in the area."Pauline was very well known in the town for her dry sense of humour when dealing with people who were a tad intoxicated. Rest in peace Pauline."KFC has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
World's oldest KFC worker who first started frying chicken in 1978 dies after more than four decades serving MILLIONS of drumsticks
The world's oldest KFC worker who first started frying chicken in 1978 has died after more than four decades serving millions of drumsticks. Pauline Richards has sadly passed away from cancer aged 74 after 47 years of dedicated service at the branch of the fast food chain in Taunton, Somerset. Known as 'Miss KFC', the grandmother worked nearly every possible role - including a cleaner, cashier, supervisor, manager and team leader - in her time at the firm. Ms Richards was famous in the town and has been hailed as 'one of its most loved residents' for her kindness, hard work, smiley conversation and dry humour. Local children called her 'Mum' and 'Nan' - while adults have fondly said she watched them grow up, seeing them through many a night out safely. She was even honoured with a Civic Award by the town's Mayor Councillor Vanessa Garside earlier this year for her 'outstanding long service' at the restaurant. Tributes have poured in for the award-winning fast food worker, who residents have all agreed will be 'truly missed', 'till we meet in the big KFC in the sky'. One customer wrote on Facebook: 'She was an absolute legend, simple as. A beautiful soul and will be sadly missed.' A spokesperson for Taunton Town Council said: 'All of us at Taunton Town Council are saddened to learn of the passing of one of Taunton's most loved residents, Pauline Richards, aka Miss KFC, the world's longest serving member of KFC staff and a friendly, well known face in our town. 'She was an excited and incredibly deserving recipient of one of our Civic Awards back in March this year. 'Our thoughts are with her family and all of those who knew and loved her.' Taunton restaurant the Spud Shack posted a tribute online, saying: 'We, as many of the town are mourning Pauline from KFC. 'She was the world's longest-serving KFC employee. She will be very missed by everyone in Taunton. 'Pauline was very well known in the town for her dry sense of humour when dealing with people who were a tad intoxicated!' Another customer commented: 'Sending massive condolences to her family, she was [a] one of a kind lady in there and those of us who grew up here were her kids and she saw most of our parents grow up and then us grow up and become parents ourselves, she will be truly missed.' One added: 'Very sad to hear the news of Pauline's passing, what a lovely lady, I feel I've know [her] all my life, you fed me many a night on the town, during my teens, twenties, thirties, forties and fifties. 'A lovely hard working lady, who will be sadly missed by many I'm sure, thank you Pauline, till we meet in the KFC in the sky.' Residents have suggested putting up a bench or plaque in a 'sunny spot' in the town, in memory of 'a true star of Taunton Town' and a 'local legend'. They said it would be a fitting tribute to the woman who 'brought a ray of sunshine' to everyone she met and 'made us all smile with her customer service banter'. Ms Richards, whose daughter and grandson have also worked at the branch, previously told of her love of the job. 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, [the customers] are asking where I am. If I've been out, I get people asking why I'm not working tonight.' Ms Richards began working for KFC in the seventies as a cleaner to support her friend who had just started working at the former branch on East Reach. She went on to become a cashier and took customer's orders before helping to cook the food. The dedicated employee even worked her way up to becoming a manager for two-and-half years. Ms Richards stuck with the firm when the branch on East Reach closed and the town's KFC relocated to East Street. She said she always aims to 'help [customers] out to the best I can'. 'A lot of people say, "Don't ever leave"', she said. 'They say, "You know what you're talking about, you help me out, and you're always friendly". 'I always make sure I get people's orders right. I think that is a good thing for the customers.' She added: '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.' She explained her long service at the brand: 'KFC haven't done anything wrong for me and I think they are good to work for. '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.' Ms Richards recalled how things had changed over the years: 'We cooked the hot wings in the pots in those days and breaded them all up and put the BBQ sauce on.' The beloved fast food worker also previously told The Sun: '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.' KFC has previously said Pauline was 'an important role model in her local community and created a legacy the Colonel would be proud of'. Estimated to have served more than five million of the brand's famous chicken drumsticks, she has been its longest-serving worker for two years. Ms Richards earned the title after surpassing American employee Lorena Neely, who worked for the chain between 1976 and 2023.
