Tea lady
Encyclopedia
A tea lady is a woman in an office or working environment, whose sole job is to provide beverages (chiefly tea
) and light snacks during the allocated tea break. Tea ladies are a mainly British
custom. They entered the mainstream in the UK during the second world war, when tea ladies were used in an experiment to boost efficiency in workplaces for the war effort. They had such a hugely positive effect on morale they became commonplace in all areas of work, mobile canteens
even serving Military units on exercises. They were either present in a works canteen, or perhaps came round with a trolley, on which was usually a tea urn full of either hot tea or hot water, and perhaps a selection of cakes and buns.
comedy, with a tea lady usually portrayed as a harassed, overweight, middle age
d woman in a uniform and cap, or as a very pretty recipient of all sorts of lewd comments from the workforce, as in the Carry on film
Carry on at your Convenience.
The character Mrs Doyle in the 1990s British sitcom Father Ted
, set in Ireland, had the role of a tea lady, and became known for relentlessly forcing the other characters to drink the tea she'd made for them, possibly a reference to the fact that the Irish are the biggest tea drinkers in the world averaging 4 to 6 cups per person per day. Tea ladies in general were a frequent target of illusory "cuts" and "economies" in Yes Minister
, frequently conjured up by Nigel Hawthorne
's character Sir Humphrey Appleby
. However, tea ladies were never once seen onscreen for the whole five-series run of the show.
In association football, media and fans often blame "the tea lady" for leaking information about player transfers to the public, regardless of whether or not team managers actually have a tea lady.
firms and vending machines, as businesses expanded and women moved into higher paying jobs. The tradition of the tea break, from which the role of tea lady rose, has itself declined, also offering a possible explanation why tea ladies are not commonly found today.
A survey carried out by the group National Opinion Polls in 2005 showed that of those workers who drink more than four cups of tea a day, only 2% of them receive it from a tea lady, whereas 66% received it from an urn, and 15% from a vending machine.
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
) and light snacks during the allocated tea break. Tea ladies are a mainly British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
custom. They entered the mainstream in the UK during the second world war, when tea ladies were used in an experiment to boost efficiency in workplaces for the war effort. They had such a hugely positive effect on morale they became commonplace in all areas of work, mobile canteens
Food truck
A food truck, mobile kitchen, mobile canteen, or catering truck is a mobile venue that sells food. Some, including ice cream trucks, sell mostly frozen or prepackaged food; others are more like restaurants-on-wheels...
even serving Military units on exercises. They were either present in a works canteen, or perhaps came round with a trolley, on which was usually a tea urn full of either hot tea or hot water, and perhaps a selection of cakes and buns.
Media
In the past they were often used as stereotypical figures in BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy, with a tea lady usually portrayed as a harassed, overweight, middle age
Middle age
Middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. Various attempts have been made to define this age, which is around the third quarter of the average life span of human beings....
d woman in a uniform and cap, or as a very pretty recipient of all sorts of lewd comments from the workforce, as in the Carry on film
Carry On films
The Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
Carry on at your Convenience.
The character Mrs Doyle in the 1990s British sitcom Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
, set in Ireland, had the role of a tea lady, and became known for relentlessly forcing the other characters to drink the tea she'd made for them, possibly a reference to the fact that the Irish are the biggest tea drinkers in the world averaging 4 to 6 cups per person per day. Tea ladies in general were a frequent target of illusory "cuts" and "economies" in Yes Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
, frequently conjured up by Nigel Hawthorne
Nigel Hawthorne
Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the...
's character Sir Humphrey Appleby
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
. However, tea ladies were never once seen onscreen for the whole five-series run of the show.
In association football, media and fans often blame "the tea lady" for leaking information about player transfers to the public, regardless of whether or not team managers actually have a tea lady.
Demise
This profession began to die out in the late 1970s to early 1980s when tea ladies began to be replaced by private cateringCatering
Catering is the business of providing foodservice at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, public house , or other location.-Mobile catering:A mobile caterer serves food directly from a vehicle or cart that is designed for the purpose...
firms and vending machines, as businesses expanded and women moved into higher paying jobs. The tradition of the tea break, from which the role of tea lady rose, has itself declined, also offering a possible explanation why tea ladies are not commonly found today.
A survey carried out by the group National Opinion Polls in 2005 showed that of those workers who drink more than four cups of tea a day, only 2% of them receive it from a tea lady, whereas 66% received it from an urn, and 15% from a vending machine.