Harrods

Given my family situation, I needed to earn money to exist as a student and eke out my meagre grant. I visited my old convent school friend Nicky Cousins, who was working in Harrods Chocolate Department while studying. As I waited for her to break for lunch I got lost in a reverie, breathing in the wonderful smells, looking at the displays and taking in the atmosphere. I was brought back to earth by the voice of the young and extremely handsome confectionery department buyer asking, ‘Would you like a job?’ A few weeks later I was in a white coat, working under the guiding hand of benign grandmother Edie, and together we manned the tuck shop where staff bought candy bars and mass-market pre-boxed chocolates. My first customer was tall, ruggedly handsome and beautifully dressed. ‘I want the biggest box of Milk Tray you’ve got!’ Why would he come to Harrods to buy this, when he could choose any of the beautifully packaged handmade chocolates on offer? However, it was not for me to question his judgment, so I smiled sweetly and packed the box in a bag. As he walked away Edie announced that he was Michael Caine, who came in every year to buy them for his mum’s birthday. ‘They’re her favourites!’, Edie told me. Sadly Sir Michael’s mother died some years ago, but he has been and remains a regular Rococo customer.