Manager's years of brief encounters

Mary Wright's sister has worked beside her for 19 years

A woman who has served everyone from Hollywood superstars to comedy geniuses is marking 35 years at Holyhead's railway station cafe.

When Mary Wright, 54, started work the Beatles were still together and Neil Armstrong had yet to land on the moon

Her first day was just before her 18th birthday on 23m March 1969.

Since then she has served literally thousands of cups of tea to passengers, had ' brief encounters' with Hollywood stars and even rubbed shoulders with royalty.

"My mother didn't want me to come because it was such hard work," she remembered.

"It was all silver service and crockery - there were no such things as disposable cups.

"Things are much easier these days.

"I've enjoyed meeting different kinds of people, from the different types of staff that have come through to the different kinds of clientele - whether they were American, French, films stars or whatever."

She remembers meeting comedian Tommy Cooper.

"He was on a night train when he leaned out of the window and said to one of the lads, 'Have a drink on me,' before giving him a tea bag.

The former James Bond was described as 'a perfect gentleman'

"He just laughed that laugh and everybody knew who it was. We were all doubled up and you could hear him all over the station."

And she was left shaken but not stirred after she met the original James Bond.

"I was 24 when I met Sean Connery - what a man.

"He sat chatting to us in the left luggage with a cup of tea and he had time to speak to everybody. He was a perfect gentleman and so good looking," she said.

"I asked him for his autograph which he gave me on his booking slip with his address on."

'Beautiful outfit'

Her most treasured memory meeting the Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on their engagement tour.

"She was dressed in this beautiful red outfit and I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.

"I remember I asked her if I could have a look at her engagement ring."

Mrs Wright met Caerphilly-born Tommy Cooper

Mrs Wright, whose sister Ceinwen Jones has worked beside her for 19 years and has been promoted over the years in her station job from catering assistant to manager, still has no intention of retiring.

"I do get some bad days when I feel like retiring but as long as my health's okay, I think I'll go for another three years."

"People say how can you stay in a job for 35 years but I've enjoyed working.

"I've got a passion for catering and I think if I didn't have that passion then I wouldn't have been here."