Posted: 22nd September 2014
Christine George, Receptionist
Lives: Faversham, Kent
Career: Christine grew up in Faversham and attended Lady Capel School for Girls, which was amalgamated into Abbey School. At the age of 16, she left school to work in a local jeweller’s shop for six months, before joining Shepherd Neame as an office junior in 1968. After a couple of years she transferred to work in the accounts department, then went on to operate the switchboard, which led to her current position as receptionist, which she has held since 2000.
Favourite Shepherd Neame beer: Spooks Ale.
Favourite non-Shepherd Neame beer: Samuel Adams after I went on a trip to Boston, so I was delighted when we began brewing it under license!
What are your main responsibilities? My responsibilities include answering and forwarding phone calls; greeting clients; receiving and distributing deliveries; booking meeting rooms for staff; and keeping the reception area presentable. I pride myself on making sure that everyone who comes through the door receives a friendly greeting and is made to feel comfortable.
What does a typical day involve? I start at 8am and finish at 5pm. My first task in the morning is to make coffee for the day, which is available to all those who use the reception area. I then get settled behind the desk and wait for the phone calls and people to start coming in. There is no typical day in this role - you have to be flexible.
What personal characteristics help you in your role? I come into contact with a diverse range of people, both on the phone and face-to face, so good communication skills are essential. You should enjoy meeting new people and have a friendly, polite demeanour. It is also important to be well-organised and remain calm under pressure, as it can get very busy.
What are the most rewarding parts of your job? When I receive positive feedback from members of the public or brewery staff. It is great to know that I have been able to help them and I am doing a good job.
What is tough about the job? Dealing with awkward people, though luckily this is a very rare occurrence. And as I have been in this role for a long time, I have learnt how to deal with the majority of difficult situations!
What do you consider your biggest personal success at the company so far? I would say my commitment, as I have been at Shepherd Neame for 46 years and I’m still going strong.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I love going to the theatre, reading and watching films. I also enjoy interior design and have recently taken more of an interest in gardening.
Why did you join Shepherd Neame? I was originally interested in working at the brewery because my father Mickey Divers worked here for 43 years. He was the last maltsman for Shepherd Neame, working to turn the malt before the process became mechanised. The company has changed hugely since I joined. I think the main change is that when I started, everything was done by hand, now absolutely everything is on computers.
What experiences have stood out for you during your time at the brewery? Shepherd Neame has played a pivotal role in my life. Not only have I worked here for more than four decades, but I also met my late partner Tony Mossman while working here. Tony was a business development manager for the brewery and we were together for almost 14 years before he passed away four years ago. When Tony’s son James got married to his then fiancée Kate, who is Canadian, the brewers here created a special beer for them, titled Maple Jack. That was a very special day.