Taunton woman and longest-serving KFC worker in the world dies

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Tributes have poured in this week for a Taunton woman who held the world record for longest-serving worker at KFC. Pauline Richards started working at the fast food chain in 1978 and became a local celebrity for her loyal service and wry sense of humour.

Pauline started at the restaurant as a cleaner to support a friend who had just been hired there. Since then, she served over six million drumsticks and had no plans to quit the restaurant anytime soon.

Speaking in January this year, she said: "It all depends on what my body says. I have been lucky I keep well. I haven’t had much illness in my life."

Taunton restaurant the Spud Shack posted a heartfelt tribute to Pauline, 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!".

Locals shared their fond memories of Pauline, with one local man reminiscing: "Banned me in the early 80s.....KFC stopped doing ribs..... I was drunk and not having it. RIP Pauline".

Others recalled her laying down the law when they were misbehaving as teenagers in the restaurant, with one person saying "She never took any messing" on a Friday or Saturday night. Meanwhile, another acquaintance remembered how she would tell them to 'behave or no chicken'.

Another said: "Oh no! I didnt know she had passed, how sad, but she left a legacy and will be remembered by many. AND she gave me a free gravy once! Bless her we were a nightmare to her in our youth! She took no nonsense!".

Others described her as 'a legend in her own time' and a 'lovely lady'. One man even suggested there should be a statue to her in town.

KFC has been approached for comment.