Egg boys

The most junior job in the days of counter service was that of ‘egg boy’ selling eggs from a stall outside the shop.

Eggs were typically delivered in crates of 360, and they all needed to be tested for freshness by ‘candling’ (holding the egg in front of a candle to see inside).

Howard Bell, who worked at the Colchester branch, recalled:

'I had to carry one of these boxes up the stairs, and unfortunately my apron was too long and I tripped going up. Eggs went everywhere - mostly on me! My manager was none too pleased, and I had to pay for some of the breakages.'

Selling eggs also tested honesty: one boy was sacked for cracking three hundred eggs and selling them off cheaply to his friends. Working outside on the egg stall could be pleasurable on a summer morning, especially in a busy market street.

In cold weather, despite mid-morning cocoa and being able to wear a coat under the uniform tunic, the job could be miserable.  Mr S D Dyer, who worked as an egg boy, recalled that one winter it was so cold that the eggs froze in their shells!

Find out more about eggs.