innocent drinks : all about us

lest we forget

It's sad when people leave Fruit Towers, But we know that they keep travelling on down the road, having been enriched by the time they spent here. And they've usually got loads of smoothies in their bag when they start travelling down that road, because when they walk out of here you can bet that's the last time they're getting any free ones, oh yes. If you think you could replace any of them, then have a look at our careers pages. And if you ever come across any of them, email the story of your encounter to shipsinthenight@innocentdrinks.co.uk
ang 1999 - 2001		Ang left us after spending about two years at Fruit Towers. At first, she was the quiet temp who came in a for a few days here and there. She was better at doing stuff than the rest of us, so she started working as Office Angel, and ended up working as Operations Support. Everyone misses Ang deeply, and there were tears shed as she walked out of the office for the last time, on her way back home to New Zealand. Sob.

marcel 1999 - 2001		Marcel was our first proper designer, the man responsible for giving our labels, website and company rule book their 'look'. He came over from Cape Town with a smile on his face, a song in his heart and some strange electronic bleeps on his minidisc player. Tragically, he was lured by the bright lights of Shoreditch, but we often think of him, and wonder if he's still got a funny little beard. If you want to get in touch with Marcel, click here to email

claire 2000		Claire was here for a short while in 2000, and her smile and enthusiasm lit up the office, like a falling star in a summer sky. Anyway, enough of that. Claire sought fame in other directions - she left to devote more time to the band in which she was the singer. Her moment of real fame came when she acted as a body double in the recent TV depiction of The Joy of Sex, the 1970s bestseller that told you how to do it. You could see her naughty bits and everything.

Alexis 2000 - 2003		There are no words that can adequately describe this man. Poet, troubadour, superstar DJ, fortune teller, chicken fancier, vintage tennis clothing expert - he's done it all, and more. Alexis has been part of innocent since day one, and will continue to be a part of us forever more. But he needs to become a proper pop star, so we wish him well on his voyage, and we hope that he finds peace in the crazy world of rock'n'roll. If you want to get in touch with Alexis, click here to email.

Assia 2000 - 2003		It was sad when Assia left. For a start, she'd been here for years, she was our first ever accountant, and we loved her so. But she's gone off to do something amazing - to retrain as an alternative therapist to help people with chronic asthma (a condition that has blighted her life), so we can only wish her lots of luck. Of course, things will be a little quieter at Fruit Towers without her, but the memory of her big shoes will be with us forever.

Jemima 2000 - 2004		Things are a bit quieter without Jemima around. Not that she was noisy or anything, but she was very good at asking questions, and not backwards in coming forwards. Luckily, Jemima has met her match in baby Arthur, her very handsome son who now makes a bit more noise than his mum. Jemima is sorely missed at Fruit Towers, but she still pops in on her way down to the shops and even lets us babysit Arthur, which we like a lot.

Mat A 2000 - 2004		Mat A is, was and will always be an innocent legend. Mat was the seventh person to ever work at Fruit Towers, and his stalwart efforts mean that today people can enjoy our drinks across the nation. But he was a cautious character, who kept his nocturnal activities private, and even once uttered the immortal sentence "If I had to choose a friend it would be dog rather than cat." We shall miss him more than words can say.

caroline 2001 - 2002		Sweet Caroline - she was here for a few months and then left us to do something a bit more exciting. Yes, Caroline wanted to live life in the fast lane, as a rock'n'roll star. But we never saw any signs of her being a hard-living rocker whilst she was at Fruit Towers - no empty bottles of Jack Daniels in her filing cabinet; no male groupies queueing outside Fruit Towers. Caroline currently plays bass in a band called Lilygun.You should go and see them - they rock (man).

kym 2001 - 2002		Lovely Kym with her bunches. She used to drive for miles to get to work, and then she used to drive all the way home again. Somewhere on one of those long drives she magically became pregnant (maybe), so now Kym looks after baby Oliver and doesn't work here anymore. Which is sad, because she made friends with all of our retailers in double-quick time - some of them still ring and ask for her, and then they wail and gnash their teeth when we say that Kym don't live here anymore

Vinnie 2001 - 2002		What can we say about Vinnie? Polite, friendly, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-his-mouth Vinnie. For well over a year, he was our design supremo, sorting out the way we look today. But a stronger urge was pulling our Vinnie (and his lovely wife) - they took heed of this urge and as a result have cleared off to Australia to seek their fortunes. We only hope that they stay in touch and let us know when they've made their first million, $AUS-style. Because we'll be over for that celebratory barbeque, believe you me. If you want to get in touch with Vinnie, click here to email.

Jamie 2001 - 2004		Jamie, or Carlos as he was sometimes known, was the ruler of the loading bay and possessor of the greatest close ball control ever seen in the W6 postcode area. Nobody came in or out of Fruit Towers without him knowing about it, and his breaks and basslines were the first sounds to greet such visitors, which made us sound a bit cooler than we actually are. Jamie started working here when he was 16, so we hope that we provided a steadying influence during his formative years. Probably not, but we hope so.

Will 2001 - 2004		William has gone, back to San Francisco to smoke the pice of peeps and to grow his beard a bit longer. And we're going to miss him. Will was the first American to ever work at innocent and he introduced us to important business phrases such as "deliver the doughnuts" and "that's a whole chunk o' change". And of course he did loads to make innocent the healthy drinks powerhouse that it sort of is today. He was last seen wandering down the Goldhawk Road after his leaving drinks, swaddled in a large Union Jack. A fitting exit. So long buddy.

Simon 2001 - 2005		The female folk of Fruit Towers shed a tear when Simon left for good. For Simon was (and is) a handsome lad, admired by men and desired by women. The things that attracted people to him most were his winning smile, his relaxed manner, those unique dance moves and his box-fresh leisure shoes. But now Simon has accepted a higher calling. Specific plans remain a mystery, suffice to say that they may involve an LCD projector, some high quality kebabs and a few obscure drum loops. Peace, we out.

ailana 2002 - 2008		From Russia with love. Via Epsom and Shepherd's Bush. But now Ailana is leaving us, just when we'd got comfortable with the pronunciation of her surname. We'll miss her profoundly. Her laugh, her smile, and that withering look you got for saying something stupid. She'll be remembered as the first lady of cheese club, and cheese in general. The bedrock of pashmina corner, making us famous, and tirelessly penning award entries in the hope that we might be able to drink free champagne. She brought high culture to W6, with talk of the theatre, burlesque and proper books. Most importantly, she once wore jeans, which was quite momentous, and she fashioned a dog lead for Paul Brown by taking off her tights - an event which still moves people to say "I was there". This small space doesn't do justice to everything Ailana did for us. She will be missed, but will always be remembered, whenever we eat good cheese.

tom 2002		During his long summer at Fruit Towers, Tom kept us all smiling, with his quick wit and hilarious jokes about Wolverhampton Wanderers being a football team. The sales team in particular miss him, as he learned the ropes in record speed and did loads of dead important work that made everyone's lives a bit easier. Tom is now pursuing a career in law, so your days as a successful burglar/jaywalker/chicken rustler may be coming to an end.

joby 2002 - 2003		Everyone at Fruit Towers was pretty sad when Joby left us. He did some great design stuff for us, and was quite shy at first, but slowly came out of his shell, like a hermit crab. We can't tell you what he's doing right now, as it's top secret and he hasn't even told his mum yet (would you tell your mum if you were training to be a male pole-dancer?). But if you need to see him, he can usually be found somewhere in south London drinking a lager shandy with lime. If you want to get in touch with Joby, click here.

Niina 2002 - 2004		Nina is the all-time winner of the most lovely person to ever work at Fruit Towers. She came to us straight out of university, and for years made sure that Adam, Rich and Jon knew what day it was and what colour shirts they should be wearing. Her sweet face belied the cutting humour that could make a grown man cry, but now she's gone off to try out some new things and to see a bit of the world - she's so young, so beautiful, she's got her whole life ahead of her...

geoff 2002 - 2008		All hail the boy “from Slough”, the man who can wear a nighty/PE kit/gold all-in-one like nobody else, the man, the myth, the maverick: Geoff Baker. Despite trying to keep it ‘well street’ with his pointy sideburns, we all know he’s really a posh boy. Connoisseur of the finer things in life, champion of the foundation and lover of ’avin it large, you’re as likely to find this colonic loving chap travelling boutique style or chowing down at the local meat off. Just remember, he’s from Slough, innit? You’ll be sorely missed, like the morning after Torture Garden. But like that place, you’re always welcome here back for more. Best of luck down under.

eamon 2003		Eamon only came to work here for a few weeks but ended up staying for many months, doing the accounts and talking about Dave Grohl and Johhny Cash quite a lot. He's gone back to university in Dublin, where he'll be able to read his beloved Irish newspapers to his heart's content. He left his mark on Fruit Towers by naming all of our office greenery, the highlight being a small bush called Robert Plant. It's the way he tells 'em.

Kylie 2003		Kylie is the aboriginal word for boomerang, and like a boomerang Kylie arrived at Fruit Towers and then flew back to Australia, which made us quite sad. She was here for most of 2003, and lit up our lives with her big smile and her willingness to come down to the Seven Stars for a few schooners. Kylie went back to Perth for a visit and realised that she actually quite liked it there, so she's back in Oz, lying on the beach in the sunshine. Sounds nice.

Dani 2003 - 2004		Oh sweet Dani. Now she's gone, there is no laughter anymore, no fast skittering drumbeats leaking from the radio as she tests out new recipes in the development kitchen. Dani was only meant to work here for a few weeks, but ended up staying for almost a year, and in that time she helped us invent lots of new drinks. She's now gone back to carry on with her studies in architecture, and we hope she comes back one day and builds us a big house

Adahl 2003 - 2004		Not that we'd want to make a point of it or anything, but Adahl was probably the littlest person to ever work at Fruit Towers. However, it's fair to say that this didn't make her particularly shy or retiring - to the contrary, she was a regular pocket battleship and was often to be heard having forthright discussions with people who owed us a few bob. She's nipped back to Australia for a while but has promised to pop in when she's back in Shepherds Bush. We look forward to seeing her again.

Nick 2003 - 2004		Nick was a bit of a superman. He could fix computers by just looking at them, set up a whole new accounts system that has made our business a lot more clever, and then he'd go home and cycle a couple of hundred miles every weekend. His next move is shrouded in secrecy, but it'll no doubt involve servers, lots of wires, a few hundred gigabytes of RAM and some of those fancy cycling shoes with the clips on.

Emma 2003 - 2005		One word. Shoes. Emma liked shoes. And although you could say this of many women, Emma really liked shoes. She sacrificed her Saturdays to do a course in How To Make Your Own Shoes. Valuable shoe shopping time. Now there's dedication. We'll miss Emma for her massive brain, refined good looks and her refusal to ever complain if she was cold. OK, so she sometimes had a little moan about sitting under the aircon, but it was the exception. We hear that she's now working at eBay. Probably sorting out the shoe section.

Harriet 2004 - 2008		If she’s not off helping her dad with the lambing or working her physio magic on someone, you’re most likely to find Harriet in the kitchen, making a cup of tea. Occasionally she returns to her desk to work her charm on Culina. But mainly, it’s all about the tea. Stylish, witty and generous, she’s in every innocent boys’ Top 5 and all the girls here want to be her friend. From single-handedly running the first ever Fruitstock to working with the bossiest of bosses and having a knack for finding missing trousers, she’s been a wonderfully calming presence in Fruit Towers and we’ll miss her a lot. We think you’re excellent, Harriet and if anyone ever tells you otherwise, we’ll send the boys round.

charlotte 2004 - 2008		Charlotte will always be one of the true ladies of innocent. Whether she was quaffing Meursault, ordering a large plate of cheese or being passed through a spider’s web by young Ben, she always remained a real lady and a founder member of the Crows Club. But Charlotte knew how to let her hair down too. Just as long as it was on her list. Ah yes, she was a lady of lists. Being organised was in her blood. Nothing ever got past her hawkish eye, not even a large and disorganised queue in Regent’s Park. Of course, there was a dark side to Charlotte. A secret world of marathon dinner parties, frank exchanges with young Frenchmen who enquired after her marital status, and sections of her holiday that were planned WITHOUT the help of lists. Darkness indeed. We shall of course miss a million things about Charlotte – she stuck up for us all when times were tough and delegated things without us even noticing. Very clever. Things won’t be the same round here. Sob.

Chloe 2004		Ooh, lovely Chloe. Chloe worked here for the summer, and without her, Fruitstock 2004 would have been no more than a small gathering of 20 people in someone's back garden. As it was, 80,000 people turned up and Chloe managed to say hello to just about all of them. And she had a right good dance as well. The world is now her oyster, and she's gone travelling for "two months or two years". We hope you take care wherever you are.

Dan F 2004		Dan came to work here during his year out at college, in the middle of his Food Science degree. It follows that he spent most of his time in the kitchen, tasting our drinks and concocting new recipes. Of course, this meant that he was always surrounded by our queens of the kitchen (Lucy, Nikki and Lucy), so Dan was quite happy. He was also the best footballer we've ever seen at Fruit Towers - we hope his knee gets better after the op.

Duncan 2004		Duncan was a man with a mission, a bit like northern England's answer to Michael Knight, except he drove a cow van and not a black Trans Am that could do sums. He roamed all across the north, and Scotland too, spreading the word about our drinks. But the more people he met on his travels, the more he realised that his true calling lay in fresh and filling lunchtime snacks. So he's gone off to open a posh sandwich shop in Newcastle. And we say good luck to him.

Hazel 2004		Hazel liked dying her hair. Some days it was red, some days it was pink and some days it changed colour at lunchtime. And as you can see in the picture on the left, she sometimes wore a hat when the dye wasn't to her liking. Hazel has gone to do something slightly more literary, which means that she's doing something that she loves, and if you ever need to find her, try looking under the tree where Marc Bolan crashed his car.

Sara 2004		Sara was here for a fleeting summer in which she travelled all around the country, letting people know about our drinks and having a few laughs along the way. She was an adventurous lady, having come over from Australia to see the sights and smell the fresh British air. But her Sicilian ancestry meant that we sometimes suspected she was here following orders from a higher power, and we're not talking about Mr J Christ, capiche?

Bronwyn 2004 - 2005		What can we say about Bronwyn? She was only supposed to stay here for a few weeks, but we loved her so much that she ended up staying for over six months. In that time, she drank tequila like it was shiraz, drank shiraz like it was going out of fashion, wore earrings that were definitely out of fashion and had several hundred ciggies down the driveway (don't think we didn't notice). In fact, she enjoyed the whole experience so much she decided to become a British citizen. Now she's back home to New Zealand for a few months to de-stress. And we're all going to miss her terribly.

Richard G 2004 - 2005		Awwwww maaaaate. We can't believe that Rich is going. We'll never forget the curly hair, the cheeky smile, the skilful sales technique and that time at Lovebox when he was being dead friendly to everyone. In fact, it's tough to remember a time when we saw Rich in a bad mood - we hope he comes back and cheers us up from time to time. One more thing - Rich, can you bring back the biffo? Come on mate. We need a bit more biffo. And bring back that bottle of sauce that you nicked from Nando's while you're at it.

Travis 2004 - 2005		Born in Sydney, Travis overcame youthful taunts about his height to become a world class goalkeeper. But after training and showering with the stars of Chelsea FC, Travis realised that he didn't have the necessary equipment to compete with the likes of Mario Melchiot, and moved on to the hurly burly world of smoothie sales. After succeeding in wedging a vehicle in an underground car park, he is seeking a new challenge in the world of talk radio. He should be OK. He likes to talk.

andrew 2005 - 2008		Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, mate, you’ve no idea how much we’re going to miss the stubby wearing Kiwi we all affectionately knew as Viv. Well, we think that was his name. Some people knew him as Andrew. He always introduced himself as ‘Vuv’. Or was that ‘Vov’? No one is really sure. Vowels aside, he’s been an innocent legend from the start, working and partying like he snowboards. Hard and crazy, man. Hard and crazy. With his big smile, way with the ladies and fountain of knowledge for all things fine and wine related, it’s no surprise he married a lady who sells champagne for a living. We’ll miss you loads, mate. Good luck with everything, mate. Drop by for a Unit 5 hoe down anytime you fancy.

kevin 2005 - 2006

Paul Mount 2006 - 2008		Paul Mount. The Maestro. A man who is to Great Plains, what Beethoven was to pianos. A gentleman. A Fortune warrior. A finance systems magician. A man with two umbrellas. A true team player who was always generous with his time, even if you hassled him straight after his two hour daily commute. We might also mention that he is the only innocent person to ever dodge a COD, although we got him big time last year. Best of luck, with everything, Mr. Mount. Drop by anytime for a cuppa (preferably after rush hour).

matt ops 2006 - 2008		Whether working on Production, Logistics, Demand Planning or Trade Marketing, Matt has always shown true dedication by never taking his eye off our Products. This innocent legend is as famous for his fashion as his love of spending weekends getting back to nature, making love and war. His tartan trousers need to be seen to be believed. We’ll miss you, Oops Matt, but we know you’ll be appreciated and loved wherever you go because you’re worth it. Enjoy the orangutans, Pumpkin, and remember, they’re not the ones who stole your trousers.

Jeremy 2006 - 2007		Fact. Jeremy loves Take That. Thankfully for us, when picking a role model he decided vicodin, street fighting and a general penchant for breaking all the rules were not for him. He wasn't going to be a Robbie, he was going to be a Gary Barlow. A family man. Dependable and supportive of the team. And most importantly - a really lovely bloke to have around. But sadly the Goldhawk Road is not the place for a man like Jeremy. His gentle manner and family ways are much more suited to a life in the country, complete with village cricket, house diaries and none of those confusing tube trains that accidentally whisk you all the way to Barking when you snooze off after a few too many beers. So sadly we have to say goodbye as he sets off to fulfil that dream. Thank you so much for everything you've done, we'll miss having you around and please keep in touch.

ant		Some memorable things about Ant 1. He was the guru/master/sensei of all things supply chain related 2. He was also partial to leaving accidental messages on founder’s phone during memorable nights out in memorable venues with ladies in bikinis. 3. He was secretly dubbed the deity of Demantra, as he set us on the path to data enlightenment 4. And he also created the Project Fortune 'love life update' for which, along with all his other charms, we will be forever indebted.

alasdair 2006 - 2007		Maker of the biggest gingerbread man ever to come out the oven, Al was as competitive at limbo dancing in the carpark as he was when it came to being at the front of a queue. Didn't matter what queue it was. If there was something free at the front of it, you could guarantee old Al would be near the front, elbows sharpened, palm outstretched. But as queue happy as he was gingerbread proficient, he was also one of the generous chaps out there. Only second to Jesper in terms of Most Pointy Little Beard in IT, he worked wonders with our systems and computers and always made time for IT issues, whatever the question. We miss his collection of baggy shorts and hope that his gingerpeople making skills carry him to many wondrous lands, full of mixed spice, silver balls and currants.

amy 2006 - 2007		Amy, Amy, Amy. Wonder of the technical team, queen of the plait/pigtail combo, Amy was always ready to shake her thing at the drop of a hat, be that on the dancefloor, in the kitchen or hotfooting it up the stairs to the Shires. As proud of her Kiwi roots as her love of rugby, you knew you were guaranteed a good night out with this lady in tow (hence the shoving and pushing to sit next to her at dinner/the bar/on the bus). She's gone off to sunnier climes now, taking her hair bobbles with her and the Shires is a slightly less sunny place without her lovely smile and genial presence.

amanda 2006 - 2007		We've had the pleasure of Amanda's company on these fine shores for 6 years. As she leaves us and flies off into the sunset, we hope she finds another place where she's really happy. Somewhere that still has snow, but not that crazy English snow that makes your nose cold and your toes wet. Somewhere you can get a good honest medieval banquet without chicken that doth taste like roadkill. Somewhere with even more complex VAT and tax laws. Ooh yeah. Somewhere far, far away from New Kev (we know that there was love there really, deep down – very deep down). Wherever that place is, we hope she's happy and we hope she doesn't forget about all of us back here at Fruit Towers. We're so grateful for all the hard work she’s put in over the years and how much she's helped everyone in the team - she was the rock that got them through a period of massive change. You really will be missed, so please stay in touch.

ben S

em		One word. Shoes. Emma liked shoes. And although you could say this of many women, Emma really liked shoes. She sacrificed her Saturdays to do a course in How To Make Your Own Shoes. Valuable shoe shopping time. Now there's dedication. We'll miss Emma for her massive brain, refined good looks and her refusal to ever complain if she was cold. OK, so she sometimes had a little moan about sitting under the aircon, but it was the exception. We hear that she's now working at eBay. Probably sorting out the shoe section.

emma		Tall. Leggy. Smiley. Leggy. Incredibly enthusiastic. Leggy. It was a cloudy day when Products Emma left Fruit Towers. Beaming whether she was making tea, brushing off unwanted admirers or overseeing a production lines, she was a top 5 lady and no mistake. The only person we know who almost wept when she was talking about bread, she’s gone off to follow her passion, become a true artisan baker and do her calistenthics video a bit more too. Car trips won’t be the same without you. Come back, baked goods laden, anytime you like.

james c		'His name was Craggy, he was a baldy and he was the man who loved to touch Ben G's hair every day.' Copacabana dissing aside, we're sure as hell going to miss that big bad giant peach. Follicly challenged from the word go, he was overjoyed when Jesper started working here, purely because Jesper made him look hairy. His high fives and over use of the phrase 'word-up' ensured the Craggster kept it real with the kids. Yeah, right. We will remember him as the man who taught us the 90 day plan, the deep dive and how to make Ben G enjoy a morning hugging. The Craggman leaves behind the still unresovled long running custody battle for the Beckenham beckoning cat and a huge Cragg shaped hole in all of our hearts. So, go well, Craggface. You can come high five us anyday.

mel		Mel Mayo. What a name. What a woman. Grew up on a farm, rang some bells, became a management consultant, then left it all behind to come and join us here at Fruit Towers. In the year and a bit that she’s been here, she’s done so much. She’s wowed the sales team with her legendary analysis and her famous trackers. She’s made us No.1 in Waitrose. She’s kept the commercial team organised and happy by remembering every celebration and always arranging cards. And somehow she’s also managed to find enough time to brew up an average 20 cups of tea a day (not just for her we’re assured). Mel is someone who gets the job done, but is also always willing to help someone when they’re in need. And that’s why we’ll miss her so much. We wish you all the best for the wedding and for Bulgaria. And we hope Gareth gets that posting in Bermuda soon

rene 2006 - 2005

lucinda 2006		Ah Lucinda. Great-great-great-great-great grandaughter of a one Mr. C. Dickens, Lucinda whirled into Fruit Towers, clad in feather boa, Converse boots and a fluffy coat. Proofer extraordinaire, People’s Champion and lover of all things veggie, she brought a joie de vivre with her (and a basket of scrumptious homebaked goods). She’s off writing books now, just like her great-great-great (we forget how many) grandad but thankfully, she only lives down the road, so we get to see her from time to time. If we’re extra lucky, she’ll invite us round for lunch on the chaise longue. Savoury muffins all round.

melissa 2006		So where does the real power lie in this company? Is it with the big cheeses, with their never-ending meetings, big powerpoint presentations and blue sky 2020 strategies? Is it the marketing guys, stroking their beards and looking for inspiration on the internet all day? No, the real power lies with Melissa. Who else could tell you in which gentlemen's club Adam ordered the 13 course deluxe cheese fiesta. She has the knowledge. She knows what you've been up to. So stop asking her if she's from America and start sending her more pictures of her beloved Zinedine Zidane to keep her sweet. Melissa - have fun in Indonesia, please stay in touch and if you ever do get together with Zizou, watch out for that head butt.

new kate 2006		She came, she saw, she marketed and with her, she brought a true sense of style, grace and a fondess for home furnishings. New Kate. Never simply Kate, or Kate T or Katie. Always New Kate. From organising team nights out to the roller disco (and then refusing to skate) to reintroducing meeting nibbles and listening to Mark’s latest lovelife debacles, she led Trade Marketing (and the office fashionistas) in proper style. She’s gone to the Isle of White now to live in a cottage, indulge in her Liberty prints and maybe do a bit of baking. In matching apron and oven glove combo. And heels. Natch.

yann 2006

inge 2006

charlie 2006		Wine. Cheese. Art. Cheese. Telling stockists how to get hold of our drinks. Sending them more POS than they could even dream of, even in their wildest shelf edge label dreams. Owner of many a cheerful summer dress, a sunny disposition and enough chat to get you through breakfast, lunch, dinner and all the bits inbetween, it was a grey day when Charlie left us to go and pursue her wine-cheese-and-art related passions properly elsewhere. And do something with a website. She kept quiet about that bit though. It was something to do with art though. She still drops in to say hello from time to time and we love it when she does. So if you're reading this, Charlie, we still know your tea order. The kettle is poised and the special guest biscuits are waiting in the secret cupboard. So don't be too long...

brett 2006 - 2007		When Brett joined us in 1999 he was fresh faced and knee high to a grasshopper. 7 years, 84 identical haircuts and several hundred half drunk bottles of Bud later, he leaves us, his face as fresh and his legs as short as the day he arrived. During that time he established himself as the central source for information on poker, plasma screen TVs and gossip. And he was very good at filming drunk people. So long Brett - we’re going to miss your happy face. But we’ll see you around (probably on Goldhawk Road, seeing as you live round the corner).

catherine 2006 - 2007		The nicest person you're ever likely to meet. Fact. When Catherine left, her leaving card was one of the biggest leaving cards ever to grace Clintons fair shelves and chockful of signatures, well wishes and marriage proposals it was. She sorted out our pay, made sure we knew what was what with pensions, worked the pinstripe jacket and boyfriend jeans look effortlessly and possessed one of those radiant smiles that made you grin back, whatever mood you were in. She's gone off to train to be a primary school teacher and you just know shes going to be a brilliant teacher. The sort that all the kids will shower with presents at Christmas, that all the dad's will fancy and that all the mums will envy a bit and secretly wish they were as lovely as her. We're not missing her much or anything.

eloise 2006 - 2007		One word to describe our Eloise: delightful. From the moment she bounded into the office, she was a permanent ray of sunshine, charming retailers, knitters and the boys wherever she went. If she wasn’t knitting like a fiend, answering the bananaphone or giggling in the kitchen, you’d be most likely to find Eloise having supper. Or drinks. Or a soiree of some kind. Domestic goddess in the making, she was always the hostess with the mostest. And despite our reservations, her cardboard sheep were the hit of that year’s Supergran and many fetes to come. Always guaranteed to properly make a night out, her infectious laugh and huge smile will be sorely missed. We love you, Smeloise. Happy baking.

christina 2006 - 2007

penny 2006 - 2007

doug 2006 - 2007		When Doug first walked in here - filofax in hand, grey flecks in hair, flowery shirt on torso, strange designer paint stains on jeans - we knew he’d be good value. And he didn’t disappoint. Whether it was helping find the greatest falafel in Shepherd’s Bush, constantly pretending to be Scottish, dancing hard while sweating harder, passing out outside the wrong hotel at the nature weekend, or the final classic of breaking his hand just to get access to some nurses, he’s been a constant source of entertainment. He’s such a great bloke who’s always gone out of his way to help anyone - even if it means having to laugh at Mark Turner’s jokes. He’ll be missed by loads of people and Fruit Towers just won’t be quite the same without him. Doug - thanks for everything you've done, have a great time in Canada and please stay in touch

daniel 2006 - 2007		Someone wise once said that you should start as you mean to go on. So when Daniel arrived and spent the whole of his induction fortnight in a drunken stupor, we knew we had a character on our hands. But he learnt quickly. Learnt to apply his wheeler deeler skills to our smoothies with great success, to put up with Shane (no mean feat), and that songs that might go down well on the way to a Bohs match might not be quite as well received on a Nature Weekend bus trip. Over the last year he scored some great listings with Hospitality Options, bagged our first cinema in Ireland, and was a legend on the blitzes. But despite his good work for innocent, he's probably made more money this year than the whole of the Irish business from his dodgy 'boxes' and car deals. Daniel - thanks so much for a great year. For achieving loads and for being a great lad to have around the office. Good luck at uni and for the future - we know you'll be a big success.

lulu 2006 - 2007

chloe3 2006 - 2007		Starbucks muffin? Check. Extra hot, grande skinny latte? Check. Comprehensive knowledge of all things IT related and the ability to stay cool and collected, even when John D came a-flapping? Check check check. Chloe was the serene calm of unit 3, the vision in white linen trousers and well chosen handbags who strode in each day and made us wish we'd had her breakfast instead of a soggy bit of toast. She was the most stylish creature to ever grace the IT team and her zen like musings are much missed in that somewhat less tranquil and slightly scruffier part of the office.

louise o 2006 - 2007		Possibly the only person to ever answer the banana phone with a 'Helloooooo' rather than a simple 'Hello', Lou was as well spoken and well turned out as her mane of hair was always gold and shiny. Greeting every visitor, postman and courier who came through the front door with her mega watt smile, she was adept at making tea, answering phones, painting nails and organising picnic baskets simultaneously whilst doing at least twenty other jobs at the same time. Along with her partner-in-crime, Lulu, she will go down in innocent history as the poshest Office Angel we've ever had. She's gone off to organise posh events for a posh market now. Which given that she is rather posh will suit her down to the ground.

shane 2006 - 2007		Boom, that's how Shane Madden rolls. Oh yes. A mix of Donald Trump, Sonny Crockett and David Brent, when he arrived he made Kevin, previously the crazy young gun of innocent, look positively subdued. An absolute legend out on the beers, Shane could not only party harder than anyone else, but he'd also end up getting the girl in the end. Sickening. As much fun as he is out of the office, he also delivered so much while working in Dub Towers. Bringing on board the last coffee chain in Ireland, being the official king of This Water and helping bag innocent's single biggest site, Google. Having someone who can do great work and be a top laugh is exactly what innocent is about. Which is why he'll be missed so much when he is back at uni. Good luck with your studies and thanks for everything, Mad Dog. It was a great year.

chris 2006 - 2007		“One, two, three, four, we’ve got disco dance war”. And with that Chris drove his disco big rig straight into the funky truck stop for a large helping of scrapple made out of sexy. For those of you not familiar with the terminology of West London dance-offs, this was the night that Chris established himself as the undisputed dancing king of innocent (and No. 2 in the world behind a man with an angora beret). He added this crown to a collection that already included awards for exceptionally good chocolate brownies and exceptionally bad hair-dos - and the legend was born. So it’s a truly sad thing that he and his many talents are leaving us. Chris - we know that one day your dream will come true and The Chris Black Dance Academy For Kids With Directional Hair Cuts will become a reality. In the meantime, if you end up having any throw-downs round our way, please pop in for a swan dive and a cup of tea. You’ve been great fun to have around and thanks for everything. We really are going to miss you.

erin 2006 - 2007		We don’t believe in stereotypes. Take, for example, the stereotype that Irish people are fond of a drink, a dance and a song. Our Erin might enjoy the odd drop of red wine and coke (a cocktail especially designed so cheap wine can be drunk quicker). And her resident spot in a bar is on the dance floor, either shoulder dancing with Chris or doing some freestyle solo Riverdancing. But this is just half the story. Since she joined innocent she’s done so much great stuff. From looking after all our drinkers on her own, to her most recent achievement: organising an absolute corker of a fete. You went above and beyond, worked so hard even though you were leaving and it’s truly appreciated. We’re going to miss having you around so much. Good luck with the course and please pop by for a drink and stepdance soon.

steve 2006 - 2007

jane 2006 - 2007		We’ve got a lot to be thankful to Jane for. Inappropriate confessions in the middle of meetings (often involving a second hand Holden Commodore). On factory visits, she’s always kept her travelling companions occupied with plenty of natter. And if there’s a hold up when they get there, she’ll always find something useful to do with the time. A ride on a socking great big rollercoaster for example. And then there’s her unique dancing style. ‘Frenetic yet brilliant’ was how someone at the school disco put it. She’s been great to have around and we’ll miss all your dodgy back seat driver stories. Have a great time in Africa, enjoy being home in New Zealand and please stay in touch.

stuart 2006 - 2007		Oh boy, where to start. It all began with a Christmas Party that has now become the stuff of innocent folklore. Some knickers, a crash helmet, large amounts of booze and the legend of Crazy Stu was born. What an introduction. And he hasn't failed to disappoint since. You just couldn't ask for a better man to have around the office. The ultimate professional when at work, getting his head down and delivering huge projects such as the implementation of the SCL. Then, when you take him out and feed him a few bowls of loud-mouth soup he's suddenly transformed into the biggest liability you'll ever meet. He is good value indeed. Stu - it is genuinely hard to describe what a loss your leaving is for innocent. So many people are going to miss you. It is a sad day indeed. But we wish you all the best and we know we'll stay in touch. Farewell Crazy Stu. The man may have left but the legend will live on.

raz 2006 - 2007		Raz Rahman - smoker of cigarettes, eater of cheesecake, breaker of breads (according to him anyway). A man who knows what he likes, and generally finds it by hanging around in salubrious drinking venues preying on the drunk and vulnerable. He is most definitely a ladies man. And with a drawer full of sweets and a manner smoother than Englebert Humperdink's margarine, how could they resist? But it will be both the men and the ladies who will miss Raz when he's gone. His cheeky grin, dry humour and friendly nature will be missed by all of us and Fruit Towers won't be the same place without him. A big character has gone. Thanks so much for everything, best of luck in the future and please pop round for a Quality Street soon.

mat h 2006 - 2007

peta 2006 - 2007		When Peta started at Fruit Towers, her first innocent initiation was our annual Nature Weekend in France. Not only did she get to sample the Worst Western hotel, but also rather a lot of alcohol to ease her nerves, resulting in a uncomfortable hangover just in time for our morning group activities. Although Peta reassured us this was very unlike her, we've since found out she's a huge clubber and is often found partying into the wee small hours both in Ibiza and in the equally glamorous Turnmills. Although she's been known as the "Ice Queen" inside Fruit Towers due to her always feeling the cold, she found a very good home up in The Tropics. She's been a valued member of the People's Champion team. Patient to the end, never once has she lost her cool, and her good nature and happy demeanour has been a true asset to us. We reckon she's going to make an amazing teacher, and we'd like to give her her own gold star in the form of this bottle. Good luck Peta.

luke 2006 - 2007

dan s 2006 - 2007

matt b 2006 - 2007

nick 2006 - 2007

claire w 2006 - 2007		Claire W. From the world of bread to crushed fruit in one seamless move, she came into the Commercial team and brought a wealth of category knowledge and fridge layout wisdom like no other. From dancing in 60s hotpants with Giles B at a bigwig Christmas party to constantly wearing sunglasses inside (even if the sun was nowhere to be seen), she still managed to co-ordinate her outfits everyday, even when she was hobbling on crutches after breaking her leg on day 2 of her first skiing holiday, And she had one of those big heart shaped diamond crystal necklaces like the lady out Titanic. Except hers wasn't blue and didn't get chucked off the end of a boat. She's gone to pastures new now, to impart her category wisdom elsewhere but near, far, wherever she is, her memory still goes on and on in FT (and whenever Celine Dion happens to get an airing).

juliet 2006 - 2007

henkjan 2006 - 2007

ynzo 2006 - 2007

nicky 2006 - 2007		“What date is Christmas Day this year?” There’s only one mouth a gem like that could come out of. And it has a lovely smile to go with it. The quote board just isn’t going to be that same without the words of our Nicky. For 3 years, she’s made POS creations that are almost as amaaaazing as her sayings. Or were they Jonathan’s sayings? Whatever. Wind your neck in, Muller. Despite all that street talk and ‘tude, Nicky is actually quite posh. She likes sailing to her parent’s chateau in France, don’t you know? Not that that makes her a lady. Competitive to the max, she’s no stranger to drowning or injuring anyone who gets in her way of winning. The gentleman’s preferred choice, she’s broken many a heart in her time here. From one legged dancing to headbutting rounder antics and the ability to pout in absolutely every photo, she has made us laugh till it hurt. You're a legend, Nix, and we just know you're going to shine wherever you go. Come back and do our colour swatches sometime.

bouchra 2006 - 2008		Ah, the lovely Bou. A lady who tells it like it is and no mistake. Straight talking, dainty walking, her beautiful face has lit the halls of Fruit Towers for 2 radiant years. As famous for her honesty as her chocolate knowledge, she’s kept Technical on the straight and narrow. Whether dictating which way to paddle the canoe or figuring out how to get to the MTV awards, she’s a lady who knows exactly what she likes and what she doesn't. And we love her for it. The darling of the PC’s, technical saviour to Europe and an all round good ouef. Au revoir, Bouchra. We’ll miss you lots.

michelle 2006 - 2008		Michelle's amazing category analysis skills would suggest she's pretty intelligent. Only when she asked 'Is Italy an island?' did we suspect that all wasn't quite as it seemed. An intrepid traveller, Michelle holds the record for the most mini breaks taken whilst at innocent. Like the endangered kiwi bird, this lady is part of a select group of people who favour the word 'darta' over the standard English pronunciation. Her obsession with formatting, her inability to be on time for a meeting, and not least, her incredible support for her team will stay with us forever. Michelle, you've left your mark. Unfortunately, it's in pencil.

jonathan 2006 - 2008		When I was in New York…CFN Jonathan, we don't care. But we do care that you're leaving. In fact we care very much because our regular in house choreographer is moving on, and it hurts. Never before has FT seen so much of one mans knees and never did we think we'd feel so passionate about the plight of vegetarians. You see Jonathan has a rather large army of fans, they love his wit, his ability to actually be interested in finance and his draconian approach to punctuation. But seriously - what other person could use a back knobber (don't ask) and grow a mini garden at the same desk - this guy is talented. We'll all seriously miss you Jonathon, as the kids (or Nicky) would say - you're strong. And not in the buff work out/man boob kind of way. In the total frickin' legend kind of way. We wish you the best of luck in the future, you'll be great at whatever you do. And please do pop round from time to time - or else we'll end up learning Row's Moonwalk moves.

lauren 2006 - 2008		Now, let's look at the evidence. Performance Reviews. Check. Academy. Check. Objectives. Check. FRESH Feedback, Manager School, the IBA. Check. All thanks to Lauren. Without her, we'd all still be dumb and lacking in HR-related acronyms to get us through the day. But there is a side to Lauren that isn't to do with the improvement of our people. Some people might not know that she is quite partial to a gin and tonic, and gets a little emotional every now and again, particularly if she shows her pants to everyone in the chill out. And that makes us love her even more. If you get the chance before she goes, you should ask her for some advice. She possesses deep wisdom and a kind mind. And if you are lucky she may tell you that "when you know you know". You know?

hannah 2006 - 2008		“Adam Balon was spotted in The Goldhawk last night with Lindsay Lohan. They were discussing wedding plans. Definitely.” There’s only one mouth such quality gossip and rumours could come out of and that belongs to our very own, Miss. Hannah Cameron. Joining innocent as a naïve young lass who’d never so much touched a drop of sherry, Hannah metamorphosed into the kingpin of Fruit Towers. She knew all the gossip (even if most of it was wrong), she knew everything about our company, and she fell in love in the loading bay. The sheer weight of wonderful words that people have to say about this lady is far too long for one website. But Hannah, you should know that everything about your wheat-avoiding, Haribo-stockpiling, rumour-spreading, no-MMM-speaking, pigeon-rescuing, shoe-hating, event-organising, cheese championing, ticket-blagging ways will be missed. The place just won’t be the same without you, Mingstrel Queen.

bronte 2006 - 2008		Queen Bee - the lady who put the P and E into P&E, the I into International and IT and the chilli into chocolate cake. From renaming people and setting up countries to opening Scandi Kitchen and giving birth on the same day, there is nothing this lady cannot do. Getting stuck in from Day 1 at the Nature Weekend, she conducted interviews in late night Parisian bars and introduced bribery cakes. A favourite of the boys of Fruit Towers, it was the Swede who eventually won her heart. Or was that Boris Johnson? Bronte Sarah introduced almost every innocent touch - from the box of smoothies with contracts to the flowers for new starters - and we love her for it. Her legacy will live on in these grass covered halls for many a year to come and we’ll miss her more than she’ll ever know. You are the stuff of legends, Queen Bee. We salute you.

hieu 2006 - 2008		Our Hieu has been around a bit - he's worked in almost every team in finance and has had more leave dates than hot meals, but he's finally cutting the umbilical cord - leaving us to cope with Great Plains on our own. He confirmed his big brother status in our team by taking young Royce under his wing and teaching him all his worldly knowledge. Arm wrestling, smoking, coping with being short in a tall man's world and drunkenness were the main lessons learned. So, Hieu's booked a flight to China to get away from us. A bit dramatic we think but at least he won't have any trouble getting his daily portion of lychees. We'll miss you Hieu (although maybe not as much as Royce).

sarah 2006 - 2008		Pink + Ginger Sarah go together like Mork + Mindy. Pink day, pink boots, pink cakes and even a pink blackberry - pink isn't just a colour for innocent's very own Texan cowgirl, more a way of living. In her 3 years as Princess of the commercial team, Sarah has impressed with some top-notch selling, amazingly accurate budgeting and downright ruthless negotiation. Most impressive of all is that not one person has cottoned on to the fact that she has virtually no grasp of basic arithmetic. With her feisty and vibrant personality, Sarah's wooing abilities are legendary - enchanting everyone from MD's of national wholesalers through to certain members of the people team. Sarah you are undoubtedly one of the prettiest, cleverest, loudest and lovliest members of the innocent team there will ever be. Your ginger and pink explosion of a legacy will never be forgotten and we will miss you lots - even if you can't spell the word 'raspberry'.

vic 2006 - 2008		Our Vic - innocent’s very own Angel of the North and the most glamorous, fashion-forward lady to ever grace Team Wholesale. Famous for her knack of pulling together totally unique outfits from her charity shop finds (sorry, vintage, darling), her in-built radar for bearded unkempt musicians is almost as legendary. Whether it’s meeting the bloke from Hot Chip or stalking The Whisky Cats (in the nicest possible way, mind) she’s always at the forefront of any musical event, not least when showcasing her fine singing skills at the village fete. But then, what more could we expect of Madchester Music Club’s founding mother? To the girl who made herself an entire meal during a wholesale meeting without anyone else noticing, the utterly unique Vic. We’re going to miss you loads, chuck. Ta ra for now and good luck in the bearded boy quest.

daisy 2006 - 2008		Daisy Brook is and always will be the First Lady of innocent, forever and ever. Before she arrived, we didn’t even know what real ladies looked like, or how they behaved. But we soon learned. Real ladies like to gossip and wear flowery dresses. They have many pairs of shoes and eat Snack-a-jacks with their pinky raised at an angle of 45 degrees. Educated ladies never say your name – they sing it to you, in the R’n’B style. Whether she was holidaying on the slopes of St Anton with five drunken older men, or organising extremely large festivals, Daisy has shown us that one can always be a Lady, no matter what your surroundings. And she leaves us better educated, with a heightened sense of etiquette, and a thorough knowledge of the usage of ‘dude’. We shall miss her, deeply.

iona 2006 - 2008		One word to describe Iona? Style. No matter what that lady did, boy did she do it with style. Wandering round the office, clutching a cafetiere in one hand, and wearing a flat cap she bought 'daaan the market' in the other? Style. Setting the dance floor on fire and giving all the Scandi poserboys a run for their money? Style. Working the the pyjama-and-heel combo better than JLo? Yep, yep, yep - style. That girl got proper 'tude, innit? Burly wholesalers, suppliers and men in general were in awe of her and acid sharp chat. The fact she had a budgie called Tweet always threw them. She once ate beans for a month so she could buy some amazingly expensive red pointy shoes (Iona that is. Not the budgie). Her eyebrow raise is much missed round these parts and as you read this, she's probably sunning herself on her little terrace in Italy or having a gossip and espresso with the old men in the square. She may be in pyjamas and a faux fur coat. She may not. But one thing's for sure. Wherever she is at, is most definitely where it is at. Go well, stylish lady.

jessica 2006 - 2008

laura 2006 - 2008		You'd think Laura would've been used to being greeted with 'Good gosh, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen' on a daily basis. But being the lovely and modest lady that she was, she was always extremely embarrassed everytime it happened. Which was a lot. The original Scandi Office Angel, favourite of the boys and organiser of company meetings, she once spent a whole day pouring away a load of smoothies that had someone had left out in carpark. And not once did she complain. Everything she did was always with grace and elegance, dressed in the most cutting edge of fashion. Which is what she's gone off to do now. Eco fashion as it happens. We know she'll be great at it. Just make sure you send us a few samples when you launch that first collection please.

richard w 2006 - 2008

jeroen 2006 - 2008

caitriona 2006 - 2008		Catríona, Cait, however you pronounce it, this lady is one awesome girl. If she wasn’t being a the best customer accountant ever, arranging away days, remembering people’s birthdays or handing out sweets to cheer people up, she’ll probably be reminiscing about Barcelona (or having a fag in the car park). Always willing to go the extra mile, she was never one to shy away from speaking her mind and holds the record for making the biggest bowl of porridge that Unit 6 has ever seen. One of the original members of Team Finance, it’s with a heavy heart we bid her adieu.

meera 2006 - 2008		‘Small and brown, Unit 2’ - the infamous email signature for tiniest beauty in Fruit Towers, the lovely Meera. A fondness for kipping on beanbags, biting shoulders and drinking strong coffee, she was always the person guaranteed to be doing something nice for someone. Chocolate coins, strawberry seeds, conceptual knäckebröds – there wasn’t a retailer in the land who didn’t weep gentle tears into their cranberry mittens when they heard she was off. The only person to weep at the brilliance of a knitted hat and small dogs dressed as bees, she’s as sophisticated, as she is edgy and cultured (bar describing the local £3-all-you-can-eat-Chinese buffet as ‘a really nice place to eat’). Big Knit Queen, Trade Marketing darling and beloved of all the boys – Fruit Towers will be slightly less stylish, less cultured and less wooly without her.

emilia 2006 - 2008		An innocent legend and make no mistake, we're not sure if we'll ever get over the lovely Emilia. Who will we discuss the merits of Jon T's body, Giles C's hair, Kiwi Chris’ guns, Arjen’s sexy voice or Dave's legendary IT skills with now? And who's going to hold our hands during all the Fortune and De-Man-tra moments? Kind hearted, warm and genuinely nice through and through, we're going to miss her well styled locks and amazing smell. Did we mention she smells amazing? Amazing. The Muffin Club boat has set sail but you'll live on in our hearts (and noses). Please don't leave it too long to invite us round to your cosy houseboat for a cup of tea and a sniff.

nikki 2006 - 2008		Nicola Elphick. Nik. Nikki-Nana. Nikki-Noo. This is one lady who goes by many names but to us, she’ll always be our Nikki. After seven years, we hope she’s forgiven us for her room mate on her very first Nature Weekend. Cake decorator extraordinaire, developer of our mangoes, coconuts and lemongrass smoothie (a.k.a her Thailand holiday in a bottle), she’s got a host of award winning recipes under her belt not to mention finally cracking the green challenge. When she’s not doing some serious blending or training for marathons, you’ll usually find Nikki making a cup of proper builder’s tea or bickering with her desk husband, Will J. We’re going to miss the chat, the stripey hair and the general loveliness that follows wherever she goes. Best of luck with everything, Nikki. The kitchen just won’t be the same without you.

claire 2006 - 2008		If she’s not persuading her dad to bury PLA bottles in compost or getting her mum to recruit Surrey’s finest knitters, you’re most likely to find Claire pureeing vegetables or rocking a hot shirt dress. Terrierlike in her determination to generate the best press ever for innocent, she’s a professional to the max (repeatedly doing up Rcihard’s shirt buttons for him). The calm in any storm and the most wonderful mum we’ve yet to meet, we’re hoping she’s going to pop into Fruit Towers with Jessica lots. Lots and lots.

will h 2006 - 2008

jamie m 2006 - 2008		Jamie Mitchell. Old Brains himself. When he wasn’t correcting mistakes in the Harvard Business Review, one could always find Jamie on his phone, in the car park, smoking a fag. That’s where the magic happened. Business got done and deals were made, out there on the tarmac. And then he went home on his scooter (sorry, moped) to relax, plot and stroke a small fluffy dog. Yes, the man is a paradox. A tough businessman and a foppish trilby wearer. A brutal negotiator and a smokin’ jazz sax blower. Always spontaneous, always questioning, always trying to blag a new phone from someone, there was never a dull moment with James ‘Clarence’ Mitchell around. He helped make the business strong and great. He has a girl’s dog. And apparently, he has some mean Spank Rock moves. Love to see them some time, Clarence. Love to see them.

erik 2006 - 2008		Erik the Great (n): description of Great Manager. Great managers teach their pupils to be great as well as life's essential lessons. Like odd Dutch words to make Australian girls smile. Or how to make a buyer perspire lightly. Great managers are strict and just. Great managers get stuff done.Even if it takes a thousand new appointments. Great managers ride in great cars. Generally, a different one every six months. And in great managers hang out in great boats. Obviously. Great managers turn boys like Daan and Jeroen into real men. Because it takes a great manager to make yourself superfluous. And it takes a great manager to step into a bath tub filled with long dragons. If you can do all this, then my son, like Erik the Great, you'll be not only a great manager but a great man to be around.

Nadir 2006 - 2007

cedric

lieke 2006 - 2007

ezri 2006 - 2007

clare 2006 - 2008		Our Clare is one tough chick. From leaping over firey holes, running through mud, rowing around the UK and sizzling on a beach, her competitive streak is something to be admired/scared of. Despite not really wanting to be an accountant, Clare has breezed through her exams, thanks to all the late night cramming with the auditors last year... She claims to be from up North but with all those posh frocks and celebrity tendancies, we don't actually believe her. Clare is leaving FT for the far more glamorous world of retail. A savvy move considering she has more fashion changes than most folk have hot dinners. Our one concern is whether she'll find a big enough wardrobe to hold all those half price clothes. Hopefully her celebrity husband will buy her a new one when she finally stalks him down. We just know she is going to shine in her new role at M&S, and who knows, maybe one day we will see her snogging JUde Law on the front cover of Heat.

niina 2006 - 2008		Neee-Noor, Bonnie said it best: You were strong, you were fast, and definitely fresh from the fight. You were sure, started soon, and, yet tiny, so much larger than life. So this is for our innocent hero(ine): You swept store owners off their feet, brought them smiles, fruit and sometimes even girlfriends, brought the dude to Sweden and joy to Team Scani, and made us all fear wheat like the plague. You taught us to know if we like something just by looking at the ingredients and from looking at yours we know: We're holding out for your return.

lindsay 2006 - 2008		Ah, Lindsay. Linds. Linz. Formerly Miss Smith. Now Mrs. Butcher. Plum haired, pixie booted vixen of the wholesale team and lover of all things budgeting and goats-cheese related. Saviour of the wholesale meeting and owner of the scariest phone voice in Unit 1, this lady possesses a myriad of hidden talents. From dance instructor extraordinaire to wakeboarding pro, go carting fiend and ball breaking negotiator minx, there is nothing this lady cannot do. Apart from Powerpoint that is. Her withering looks and brilliant banter will be sorely missed as will her rosy cheeks, incredibly short skirts and that mad dash for the 17:27 from St. Pancras. Go well, our Linds. We’ll miss you loads.

rebecca 2006 - 2008

Kelly 2006 - 2008		Heads turn when Kelly enters the office each morning. No, it’s not the dazzling luminous yellow cycle jacket that catches the eye, but the smiling, enthusiastic Pride of Scotland walking past you, ready to lead International Finance into battle against month end and the dreaded Fortune Cube. A true team player, amazingly sociable and with a steely determination to get stuff done, there’s nothing this lady can’t do. We know she’s going to have a blast travelling the world with Matthew though we’re not too sure how far her knowledge of pivot tables will take them. We’re going to miss you heaps, Kelly. Pop back for a cuppa/cocktail anytime.

stu 2006 - 2008		Biceps. Triceps. Lats. Guns. Cereal. More Guns. MMMs just won’t be the same without Stu’s tight tshirts to ogle. Breaking the innocent record for trying not to speak to as many people as possible, Two Screen Stu is the darkest of dark horses. Secret figure skater, secret topless podium dancer, secretly obsessed with cleaning, behind that tough, toned exterior is a sensitive soul with a passion for wifebeater vests. The ability to do one-armed-upside-down pushups, consume an entire bag of Alpen in one go, stay out dancing till dawn with the trannies and become an online innocent pinup whilst churning out the best links this side of Linktown, he’s a bona fide legend. It’s the end of an era, it’s the end of Stuben, it’s the end of things getting done on time. We’ll miss you loads, sweet juggernaught. Come back and let us touch those arms anytime

Bethan		Ah lovely Bethan. She came, she organised and she did it in only the way she could: very, very nicely. Project Angel (as she was known) she whupped and organised the Supply team into shape without ever once having to raise her voice. Good job really as she had the tinkliest tones this side of Tenby. With a lovely smile, a dainty walk and array of ballet pumps to match, she's off to spread her fairylike charms elsewhere and we wish her well in everything she does.

Tom 2006 - 2007

Beth Campbell 2006 - 2007		Beth C. Striking resemblance to Becca from Hollyoaks. Favourite of the boys of Fruit Towers. Sister of Jamie C. And all round smiley, helper of the Marketing team. She did all sorts while she was here. Helping out our People's Champions, writing letters, sampling our drinks, smiling lots and just being a lovely person to work with. She's finished her degree now and is off working as a nanny in West London, having a whale of a time. We get to see her from time to time which is always nice (though probably not as often as the male population of Fruit Towers would like).

Gareth Jones 2006 - 2008		Gareth Jones. Berry Boyo to the trade and one of the politest chaps we've yet to meet, Gareth was properly dedicated to the pubs of this land, both professionally and on a night out. Yet never did he ever look anything other than chipper. Fiercely proud of his Welsh heritage and his rugby team, he threw himself into everything he did (including his unique style of dancing) but always politely and always with a smile. Even when someone stubbed a fag out in sampling cup at a tradeshow. He's gone off to take on the world of tea and we wish him well. If you see him on your travels, give him a hearty pat on the back and invite him for a cuppa. He'll like that a lot.

Frith Thomson 2006 - 2008		Frith, Frith, Frith. Fierce but fair in Finance, dedicated and bendy in yoga and the owner of one very attractive husband and many an excellent outfit. We loved having Frith here and our international teams still mourn her departure on a weekly basis. She's gone off to be mummy full time now and we wish her well in all she does. Pop back anytime you like for a cup of tea and a stretch. Preferably with your aesthetically pleasing brood.

Conor McKenna 2006 - 2007		Conor McKenna. The living, breathing embodiment of the loading bay. We only began to understand his commitment after he got half-naked at Guanabara and revealed a level of paleness that could only be achieved from spending way too much time in a big fridge. He'd be in that cold dark room day and night, singing sweetly to his little drinks. Oh how they’ll miss him. Just as we will. We’ll miss his amusing but vague emails, his power-eating prowess, his ginger beard, his eccentric ways and maybe even those red shoes. It’s people like Conor that have made this company special and it’s not going to be the same without him. Please stay in touch. You can come and dance on our tables anytime.

andrew b 2006 - 2008		Andrew Bullock, or Business Case Bullock as his friends call him. Some people even called him Raging (Bullock). But whatever his name, what a man. There are tales to tell, for sure. The best ones involve the fact that he single-handedly wrestled our village fete from being an idea into a thing that actually happened, and it was all down to how he handled that golf cart. For that he will be remembered. And then there's the executive sports automobile that cruises the highways and byways of west London. But the most important issue - the tan. Who knows where it came from? Perhaps the time spent with the hood down in his Merc? Perhaps sunny weekends in Buckinghamshire? Perhaps perhaps perhaps. Nobody knows. But boy did he look good.

Andy 2006 - 2007		Andy: Pioneer of the curvy Visio document and possibly the world's largest data flow process map. Resembling a Heathrow emergency flight path for 300 planes landing at once, it was just as usable as it sounds. Using the word ‘closure’ at any opportunity in meetings (but never at the end), randomly speaking in an American accent for no reason and an ability to magically acquire large bottles of spirits on nights out, it was never dull with him around. He’s heading Down Under, where his choice of shorts and flip-flops every day, whatever the weather, whatever the meeting, will be much more appropriate. All the best, Mr. T, and remember that 'thongs' are different in Australia to the UK variety.

Shaun 2006 - 2007		Shaun from South Africa. He worked in our international finance team, knew a lot about rugby and once drank so much punch at a Christmas party, that he spent the rest of the evening, shouting at himself and then apologising to himself straight after while everyone else went off to dance and open Secret Santa presents. We're not sure where he is right now but if you see him, chat to him about the latest SA game and steer him well away from the punchbowl.

Mark F 2006 - 2008		Macro Mark (pronounced Ma’k) started with us one late summers morn and sniffed out Goldhawk Road’s most competitively priced Chinese immediately. Along with his high wire walking skills, he was also known for his more spiritual side, consisting of frequent trips to "the church" followed by a nice Sunday afternoon stroll. In Kiwi, this is known as "The Shey Bu Walkie”. Though the closure of the local Subway was a testing time, Mark kept a stiff upper lip and switched allegiance to the Uxbridge Road branch instead. It’s this flexibility and desire to 'go the extra mile' to secure 'food supply' that have made Mark such a top bloke. He will leave a large, empty hole in the Supply team, Fruit Towers and the balance sheets of W14s finest eateries.

Wiesiek 2006 - 2008

Justin 2006 - 2008

Gudrun 2007		Gudrun was ace. She smiled lots. She always did stuff on time. She made good tea. And she always came to a COD. Finance loved her. The folk of Heaven (Unit 6) loved her. And when there was a dance floor nearby, by jove, it loved her too. If you see her out and about, she will look just like this picture - smiley. Granted, she might of cut her hair or got her eyebrow pierced, but rest assured, you'll be glad you went over and said hello as she's one of the lovelirst ladies you're likely to meet.

Louisa M 2007		Louisa was our first placement student in our Data Insights team and for the first couple of weeks here, she was quiet as a mouse, head buried in Excel, always in bed by 9pm every night. That lasted all of about 3 weeks. After that, it was p.a.r.t.y all the way. The insight we gained from Louisa working here was thus: that in order to be out quaffing champagne til 4am every night, turning up to work for a full day of hardcore data analysis then going out to do it all over again (and still managing to look fresh as a daisy at the same time), you need to be 21. And it was lots of fun to have around. She's gone to finish her studies now and hopefully calm down a bit. Just a bit mind.

Andrew W 2007 - 2008		Andrew's favourite fruit is a fox. Just over a year ago, we took this homeless drunk off the streets and have been trying to get rid of him ever since. Having toured Europe extensively with 'work', Andy has finally stuck his two fingers up and has run away again. Not with his team's award like last time but with a desire to conquer the world.* From his scintillating MMM "Just go outside and chill for a bit" exercise, to wheedling Laura into a moonlit walk in Cannes and then trying to kill the original Mr. Chris Black ("Just jump in, like. It'll be fine), we'll miss him loads. Geordie midget, you're a hero, no matter what those Austrian karaoke Djing fools say. Go well, like. * dressed as a wrestler

Mel 2007 - 2008		Our very own Mel C - ever cheery, ever present and ever in the kitchen attacking the chocolate spread. Up with the birds and first in the gym, this is one spinning queen whose passion for work, diet and exercise combos and enjoying company nights out to the max is legendary. 3:30pm by the toaster just isn’t going to be the same. Your place in our hearts is assured, not only for being our first innocent contact but also for your top notch gossiping skills, your radiant grin and your brilliant shapethrowing on the dancefloor. You’ll leave a big Mel Shaped hole in these grass filled halls, not to mention the hearts and Top 5s of many a man in Fruit Towers. May the sun always shine on you and your award winning smile and may you always be a lovely shade of golden orangey brown.

Rebecca P 2007 - 2009		Flame haired to the max, Kiwi to the core and laid back to the horizontal, our Bec is a lady who doesn't do things by halves. Especially when it comes to the odd tipple. Or nine. Smoothies, posh cocktails, own label vodka - there's not much that hasn't made it into that infamous hipflask. Developing her own unique managerial style by promising higher ratings for inter-team snogs, she's balanced professionalism with partying, charming new starters and buyers alike and staying as feisty in the boardroom as she is on the dance floor. Not that she's in the boardroom very often. Local boozer, random Croatian village, burlesque fancy dress party - yes. Boardroom - not so much. Much loved manager, much loved desk buddy and the life and free booze supply of every party, we're going to miss her heaps. Safe travels, lovely Bec. Enjoy the land of the long white cloud.

Jesper 2007 - 2008		Also known as Ming the Merciless or 'the one in IT with the pointy little beard'. Jesper wasn't all modems and systems updates. Oh no. He had a soulful side too which only came to light during his COD speech. Oh how that poem began. Oh how it went on. And on. And on. And on...We miss the beard. We miss the glasses. But most all, we're missing the final installment to your elegy. So if you read this, make sure you pop back for a reading sometime. Just let us know you're coming and we'll have the wine and cheese ready.

Michelle M 2007

Gareth Helm 2007 - 2008		Gareth H. Part marathon man, part foldable bike. Some say it was the myriad of checked shirts that burned his imprint onto our collective retinas, others reckon it was that unceasing commitment to consumer insights and all those glorious focus groups. Either way, that gift of oversized washing up gloves has ensured a place in Fruit Towers history. Having steered us away from pesky cuckoo clocks to calmer waters, he’s now off to pursue some monsters and mermaids and we wish him all the best with steering that ship (in big yellow rubber gloves of course).

Anushka 2007 - 2008		Nush. The girl with a name that sounds like whoosh, which is incidentally the sound Danish guys’ hearts make when they meet her on planes. Super stylish, super calm Nush – a creative apple, who’s not shy in giving her opinion. Nush. The lady who eats peanut butter straight from the jar without so much as an 'Excuse me'. Nush. She can talk and talk and talk, and leaves the most wondrous voicemail messages. Nush. Beloved by our Vikings. Beloved by all at Fruit Towers. Beloved by all boys. Everywhere. We’re going to miss her. Truly. Madly. Deeply. Nush.

Tim 2007

Estelle 2007		Estelle was the first lady of innocent HQ in Germany, even before we had an office there. Estelle just worked from different cafés in Hamburg, eyeballing any owners who raised an eyebrow at her eeking out the afternoon on just one medium frappe latte. In the end though, she was greeted with by name every time sje nipped to IKEA for yet more office furniture and answered hundreds of questions from our drinkers. Estelle, you organised our lives when we weren't able to and taught us a thing or two about hanging out in cafes for extended periods of time. You won't be forgotten.

Navita 2007 - 2008		Super brainy, super organised, super co-ordinated (and we’re not just talking dance floor moves), there’s only one lady in Fruit Towers who can work that Supers look to the max and that’s our Navita. From her enviable excel expertise (professionally and personally) to her ability organise, enthuse and juggle one hundred things at once, you can guarantee this lady will havea matching earring and necklace combo, whatever the weather. A great listener, a wonderful friend and a surprisingly reliable source of office gossip, she’s like a mini whirlwind sunbeam in the office (well co-ordinated of course). An immaculate dresser, from the tips of her well painted toe nails to her long shiny locks, we’re going to miss those fabulous matching top-necklace-shoe-earring combos lots. But most of all, we’re going to miss her big, big smile and cheeky, cheeky laugh. Watch out, Canada. It’s time to get colour co-ordinated - Navita styleeee.

Bill		We liked Bill. He always had a smile for you, always a good bit of chat, always something interesting to pass the time it took for the kettle to boil and the tea to brew. He wore a shirt and tie everyday, no matter what the weather. And he always let you have the last biscuit/teabag/slice of bread in the kitchen. Because he was that generous sort of chap. We miss his tea making and biscuit sharing ways and the certain amount of smartness he brought to the table he sat on, which is somewhat scruffier since his departure.

Catherine V 2007		Catherine V. Our very own Australian punkette. Proper cool, slightly gothy, large array of stripy tops, this was one lady who loved heavy metal, tea and biscuits like no other (and hated hot desking and soft rock with equal passion). The best bus buddy this side of Balham, she’s gone off to pursue her punk dreams elsewhere and we hope she’s well. Punk’s not dead, people. It’s just moved Down Under.

Mary 2007		Mary came to Fruit Towers to help with the move to Units 1 and 2 and following a brief tour of Europe (Hamburg), she moved into the kitchen permanently. After showing much prowess for lifting yellow boxes and painting German radiators, she spent most of her time holding court by the coffee machine and hiding at the sound of words like 'market penetration' and 'SKUs'. Occasionally, she called the odd stockist. In the short time she was here, she managed to set up an undercover matchmaking service in the form of Sandwich Club, develop an unhealthy fondness for the COD frenzy and cement the word 'hecking' into most people's vocabulary. From her love of Africa to her skinny-dipping in Cannes and the ability to keep Jim at JD's happy, she makes us laugh til it hurt and her smile and badger jokes will be sorely missed. Good luck in Holland, Mary; you can shift our boxes anytime.

Chris D 2007		Our own long legged, running published author no less. Chris D was an aspiring author who just happened to be wearing in an accountant's suit (no tie, of course). A real gent and an real gentle soul too, you could tell he was financially savvy due to the booksales he accumulated during his time at Fruit Towers (pretty much anyone who ran anywhere had a copy of "30 Great Runs in London" on their desk by the time he left). He left us to travel the world, work at The Times and and get married to the lovely Rebecca on a beach. And we hope he's well, wherever he's currently pounding the pavements.

Nick G 2007		Big, gelled or spiky, bouffant was always the first order of the day for the poshest chap in Finance. Nick G to us, Nicholas to his toff mates, he loved a good game of cricket and pretty much lived at Fruit Towers for the time he was here. A striking resemblance to Finance Tim, many a double take was had and many a confused whisper shared as to who was who or whether if they were actually the same person. Thankfully, Tim got his hair cut pretty sharpish, thus removing anymore covert whispering about lovely Nick (or pinching his arm to check he was real).

Raoul 2007 - 2008

Phil 2007		Phil joined our team to sort out our supply chain finances and for ages, people would get emails from Phil, go looking for a tall chap in Finance and get all confused when they couldn't find him. Phil stayed with us for a year and managed to whup the finances and the team into ship shape working order. She left us to go and study German in Austria and we'd put good money on it that not only is she probably fluent by now but that she's organising, sorting and confusing the Austrians something silly by refusing to be known as Philippa.

Sonia 2007 - 2008

Sarah G 2007 - 2008		Calm calm calm. Yes, Sarah was always the calmest person in the room. And sometimes they were big rooms, with fancy chairs, and lots of people talking about data, research, ‘feeling’ and exploding pork pies. These rooms did not induce calmness. But despite everything, despite every pink doughnut that could be hurled at her, she stayed positive and extremely stylish. Excelling at eating biscuits whilst hanging out in big hangars in Acton, this lady steered us away from the dreaded cuckoo clock and indulged in many power lunches a deux avec The Bullock. We’re sad to see you go Sarah, but we know that success will follow you wherever your heels take you. May your scripts always get signed off.

David W 2007		David W. Shirt and jean combo - check. 136 pairs of pointy, square toed shoes (always well polished) - check. The longest eyelashes this side of Dublin and the bluest o' eyes - check check check check. Wooing buyers and suppliers alike with his beguiling accent and twinkly smile, we miss his Irish charm about the place. And his penchant for dressing like an elf. Good luck with everything, David. May those heated eyelash curlers always stay toasty.

Dan Sparshatt 2007 - 2008		When he’s not turning boring, late night Spanish taxi journeys into truly rip roaring rides, you’re most likely to find Dan sniffing out cake. Negotiating the price of steak, adding insight and value or just feasting on mid afternoon chocolate spread sandwiches, Dan is never far from cake. An endless repertoire and love of nicknames, a rainbow of identical t-shirts/shirts, the carpe diems and the elbow sharpening just before a COD – there’s only one man who can pull off the mantra ‘retail is detail’. A wonderfully calming presence in Grocery, he’ll be sorely missed by his team mates, his deskmates and the people who make chocolate spread. May the Cake God of Plenty shine on you wherever you go, Stan Spare-shorts. We salute you.

Kamini 2007		Ah Kamini. Great at writing reports, great at making finance chat exciting and great at badgering Raz for information. Lover of the cherries, lover of the berries and lover of all things girly, her badgering skills are second to none and Team Finance is a less badgered place without her.

Nicholas T 2007

Daan 2007 - 2008

Martijn 2007

Gavin 2007 - 2008		Gavin 'Lord of the Loading Bay' Fernback. Owner of the sickest trainers and phattest fanny pack this side of West London. Without Gavin, we'd never have been introduced to genius ideas such as the FT monorail, the coffee table made of lego bricks, Clover the van becoming Clover the meeting room, the wall of one shots or the multicoloured rockery for outside reception. Quite frankly, our lives would have been poorer and emptier without all his waffling. Go safely on your travels Lord Gav, and know that you'll be missed. Ask lots of questions and have the time of your life. Fruit Towers salutes you.

Gerald 2007 - 2008		Gerald is a man for all seasons. Armed with a pencil sharpener in one hand and lethal skinning knife in the other, he was often seen roaming barefoot through Fruit Towers, clad in a rugby shirt and a well trimmed moustache. Ah the tash, the tash, the tash. Lovingly embraced for Movember, it remained a permanent feature and we can’t remember life without it. With his magic hands, his crazy shape throwing on the dance floor, his ability to fling off his dance partner’s jewellery and his daily sweet supply top up, Gerald is one Saffa that will be sorely missed. Go well, bro. We’ll miss you lots.

Karen B 2007 - 2008		It seems like an age since Hurricane Karen blew into the grassy halls of Fruit Towers. Not that anyone would have suspected that blonde Shropshire lass to be anything other than sweetness and light, with her angelic face and penchant for sewing and baking. No one knew about Karen the rock star/erotic literature writer/children's holiday organiser. Nope, this is one girl who is consistently full of surprises. And accidents. If there is something to be broken, fall off or crash into, you can guarantee Karen will be on the receiving end. Who’s going to make our costumes now? Or drive customers to the station? Or bake our birthday cakes? Fruit Towers is going to be that little emptier without you, Miss Brayne. Best of luck with the next steps, lovely girl, and try not to break anything along the way.

Sneha 2007 - 2008		When not driving her Mini like Nigel Mansell you’ll usually find Sneha burning up the aisles of Primark. Or is that Primarni? Fashion forward to the core, her refusal to ever compromise outfits means that the heating must always be on. Always. Possessing the most graceful stair descent at innocent (whatever the heels), it’s strange that such sophistication is synonymous with Nandos. And Chicken Cottage. And Kebabs-R-Us. Perhaps this is why she had to start a numbering system to keep track of her countless admirers. This is one local gal who don’t take no messing and we will miss her lots. Good luck, Sneha. May your cup of loveliness, good shoes, and greasy fried chicken never run dry.

Laura B 2007 - 2008		Ah Laura. When she joined last summer, it seemed like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Thankfully, that façade lasted all of a week. A couple of cocktails, some groovy tunes, and out come the Kylie dance moves, the taking pity on Geordie midgets and if you’re lucky, that charming pig snorting impression. Her domineering ways have made many a school child and Harlequin behave impeccably in taste tests. Odd socks, good glasses, all that tripping up – we’re going to miss her lots. Best of luck, Laura, pet. Drop by for a brew any time.

Tim R 2007 - 2009		There’s only one man in Fruit Towers whose dressing up box comprises of a red romper suit, a monk habit and his housemate’s G-string. No, not Adam but our own Tim 'The Mallet' R. Despite acting like a crazy drunken fool most of the time, he was teetotal to a t. Meaning he remembered everything you told him, like a wise old elephant. Just minus the wise. Well known for always putting others first (especially if they have cute friends) he was as generous as they come. Unless you happened to be queuing for food. Or anything free. Then it was elbows at the ready. Shaving came pretty low on his list of priorities and his Movember tickler is now the stuff of innocent legend (matched only by his talent for blagging free stuff and the ability to start an argument in an empty room). Since upgrading from the Troll under the Stairs to Tim of the Tropics, there is suspiciously more food in the kitchen. Hopefully this scavenger talent will stand him in good stead for any sticky spots in Africa, where he’s headed next. Always living life to the max, these grassy halls won’t be the same without our very own rad, bad 'inappropriate uncle Tim'.

Pamela 2007 - 2008

Kevin 2007 - 2008		Apparently Kev's only worked here for a year, which is strange because it feels like an age since he first strode in here in his drainpipe jeans, big white trainers and oversized shirt, looking fresh off the boat from Oirland. He went away for a bit to do some more studying stuff. And then he was back again. And how things changed. He managed to be consistent in his complaining about purchase orders, moaning about his bad back and harping on about Man U. But the dress sense - what a transformation. He now looks the part as he sits in his giant throne, whispering on the phone to his ladies, and having cups of tea delivered to him at will. We can only hope that they have a branch of Top Man in Dublin. We'll miss you Kev, thanks for all the hard work and please keep in touch. And stay away from those stonewash jeans.

Martin L 2007 - 2008		Martin and his fair, fair skin and strawberry blonde hair joined the innocent back in 2007. His career highlights included getting very friendly with the accounts team and conning many an innocent lady into putting suncream on his back at the Nature Weekend. He's off to teach English to children affected by the tsunami in Thailand. So if you ever meet a young Thai person with a Dublin accent and the catchphrases 'ah jaysus' and 'what's the story, Rory?', you can bet your bottom dollar they'll be a graduate of the Martin L School of English.

Sophie 2007 - 2008		Sophie, our Scottish ray of sunshine. Forever making us giggle at her pronunciation of Google, brewing endless cups of tea and baking banoffie pie to die for. Her grassy van 'Lawna' was possibly the best kept grassy van in the world, Milky Way, universe even. She's off on an adventure in New Zealand right now, travelling round, seeing the sights, still saying Goooogul, making tea and fattening up her new pals with her pies. We'll miss her to bits and we'd be lying if we said we weren't secretly chuffed that she cried the whole way through her leaving speech. Best of luck, lovely Sophie. You can make us a pie anytime.

Ann		Ann. Fashion forward. Giggly. Amazing with numbers. Always making something interesting for lunch. Giggly. A fondness for pork fibreglass. Lover of furlined boots and tiny bags, she's back at uni now, still doing numbery things, still making fascinating luncheons and probably still giggling. We hope she'll pop back soon (if only to bring us a trendy packed lunch or two).

Leila 2007		Leila brought the Big Apple to Fruit Towers. Fresh from New York, she brought proper SATC style with her and took Power Dressing day to a whole other level. Adding a certain glamour to the supply team, she came, she saw, she strutted and it's a little less Manhattan without her click clack heels puncturing the astroturf.

Charlotte C 2007		2007 was the year BKC a.k.a Big Knit Charlotte came to innocent. And boy, was it a big year for knitting. The knitters came good with 400,000 hats and BKC wrote nice thank you notes to each and every person who knitted a little bobble hat for our smoothies. Granted, the postal strike didn’t make it very easy to get all those hats onto bottles but if anyone was going to make it happen, it BKC and happen it did. Always smiling, she repeatedly declined Cheese Club invites in the politest fashion, despite being lactose intolerant and not being able to remove herself off the email distribution list. Without her, the Big Knit 2007 would never have happened and we wish her all the luck in the world as she heads off for bigger, brighter, non woolly marketing pastures new.

Kim 2007 - 2008

Emma N 2007 - 2008		Better than your average placement student, Emma is the oracle of data loading, all things Excel related and frozen crème eggs. The only time that she enjoyed speaking in public speaking was when she talked freezing chocolate eggs at the academy. Occasionally, you’ll find her at her desk, demanding data over the phone, but really it's all about Facebook. Witty, generous and a true team player, she never hesitated when we blew the conge. From morning cuddles, Gravy days out, yoga, martial arts and Nachos club, Emma is a true legend in the team and we’re going to miss her loads. Move over, Napolean Dynamite.

Angie		Angie had the best collection of boots we've ever seen. And a smile for everyone. Especially when they were wearing boots. You were most likey to find her, hanging round the kitchen or breakfast bar work station bench thing, giggling with Ann and eating strange but delicious smelling concoctions for lunch. She did a sterling job in the finance team and is now back at uni, probably still giggling, probably still making amazing lunches with Ann and something clever with numbers. She'll definitely still wearing boots. That is a given.

Sarah O 2007		Sarah O worked in our international finance team dealing with the accounts for a number of countries. We like to think that having exposure to international finance inspired her to go and live on a boat in Miami with her sister, but somehow we don't think debits and credits had the same impact as the thought of all that sunshine, lime pie and the Florida Keys.

Royce 2007 - 2008

Liesje 2007 - 2008

Zoe 2007 - 2008		Zoe. Capoeira Queen, speaker of Portuguese, fan of all things purple and owner of the biggest grin this side of Acton, our Zoe was the oi linda of Trade Marketing. Beloved by small shopkeepers across the land, she sent out their POS, answered their phonecalls, replied to their emails and remembered their birthdays. And she filled in that horrid spreadsheet, everyday, without fail and without complaining. Once. Softly spoken, lover of emoticons and endless cups of tea, she’s gone to play some more with her shapethrowing friends and teach people how to do the ginga properly. Tchau for now, Zoe love.

Duncan 2007 - 2008		When we think of Duncan, one word springs to mind – inappropriate. The stuff about Duncan is far too explicit to put on a website. Or even write down. Taking ball bouncing and working from home to a whole new level, he did the innocent band to the max and despite constantly looking like he was doing very little, Spunky Dunc always came up trumps. Known and loved by everyone in Fruit Towers, mainly because he was always everywhere, except his desk (or was that Graham?). We’re going to miss you heaps, mate. Come back anytime you like.

Christina A 2007 - 2008		Queen of Cubes. First Lady of Fortune. Supremely calm. Patience personified, And always always smiling. Christina was grand to have around. Always cheerful, always chatty and always ready to help out with IT problems that would (and did) make grown men cry and sniffle a bit. Even when IT ordered their 18th pizza and fizzy pop of the week, she'd keep smiling, keep sorting and keep making people feel better. And fixing problems once the melted cheese dip properly kicked in with the boys in her team. A lady to be saluted indeed.

Vaughan 2007 - 2008

Melissa 2007 - 2008		Melissa, Melissa. Once tried the cabbage soup diet for a day and was so overenthusiastic about it that she then had to take two days off work to recover. That sort of determination, zeal and getting stuck in was as obvious in her work with the finance team as it was her general lovely nature and her attitude to hilarious diets. We'll always think of her fondly whenever we see a Savoy, a Salarite or any brassica related soup.

Charlie F 2007 - 2008		Without Charlie, Valentine’s Day monthly beers might not have happened and the supply chain finances would have been as pickled as a jar of Branston in Onion Town. We’re not sure which she was more proud of but safe to say, next time we’re organising a bash involving heart shaped biscuits, romantically themed cocktails and the sound of Barry White or just some well preserved vegetables, we’ll know exactly who to call.

Colin 2007 - 2008		Undoubtedly the cheeriest man the Highlands has ever produced, this cheeky chappy with the charming chat won us over from the moment he stepped into Fruit Towers. From wooing our fiercest customers to having ladies swooning at the village fete, leaving love notes on his windscreen and hanging round the kitchen whenever he popped into Fruit Towers, Colin’s silver tongue (and nice arms) are a thing of innocent legend. That said, his luck with the ladies has been well balanced by his bad luck with vehicles; the love-hate relationship with Mowrice a familiar sight of many a hard shoulder. Top 5s and van tiffs aside, we think you’re wonderful, Colin. And if anyone ever tries to tell you otherwise, we’ll force feed them Cornish oysters.

Jane B 2007 - 2008		If she’s not off on an early morning run on the Heath or pounding the treadmill, you’re most likely to find Jane making an egg bap in the kitchen or snaffling some pre tracker checking chocolate. From establishing international supply chains, winding up suppliers about her non-bump pregnancy and ensuring there is enough cake for all the FGSC family, Jane is as famed for her Posh-Nosh BBQs, her domestic political connections and her X factor obsession as she is for quietly making a big impact at innocent and still getting home for story time. We’re going to miss her loads, so don’t ever be anything but lovely to her or we’ll send the (CS) girls round.

Jess F 2007 - 2008		Roses are red, water boils at 100?C and 76.3% of all parcels sent in Stockholm last year were packed by Jess. These are the facts. When everyone's favourite Yoda-speaking Pippi brought her amazing warmth and organisation to innocent Sweden, from funny copywriting to fending off threatening invoices, everything was handled with true innocent spirit. Very true this is. And missed much she will be.

Carlien 2007 - 2008

Gurjit 2007 - 2008		Putting the ‘g’ into diligent (as well as the ‘I’ and ‘t’), Gurjit was so detailed and thorough in everything she did, that it made us want to tidy our desks, tuck in our shirts and sharpen up our acts in general. Possessing one of the most infectious laughs in Fruit Towers, it was always well worth setting her off, whether in a meeting, a crisis or the kitchen. In addition to her off-the-scale organisation, her shiny glossy mane was the envy of all and more suited to shampoo ads than technical issues. In fact, the only thing we could ever really fault Gurjit for were her tea making abilities (which at best were pretty rubbish). Things are a little less tidy without her here but that organisational wizardry has left it’s mark, so she’s never far from our hearts.

Natasha 2007 - 2008		A true People’s Champion, right from day one, Tash embraced her inbox like no one else. Whether helping rescue dogs along the Goldhawk Road, distributing vouchers or overseeing the redecoration of someone else's kitchen, Tash was always the consummate professional. Sometimes known as "Red Hot Boss Cross," there's a lot more to that calm exterior than we could ever give her credit for. Always keeping her cool (mainly due to the fact she never could get warm in Fruit Towers), nothing could ruffle those feathers, not even when celebs came a-calling. We'll miss you, our Champion of Champions. Pop back anytime you like for a tour of Fruit Towers.

Charlie G 2008		With her sunny disposition, array of brightly coloured gym clothes and a butter-wouldn’t-melt smile, you’d be mistaken for thinking that Charlie G was as innocent as they come. But you’d be wrong. Oh so wrong. We’ve seen that wiggly bum dance on the low ropes, that dogged determination on the totem pole and those extremely bendy yoga positions in the chillout. And none of that foodie knowledge, commitment to green veg pots or fab,Friday shoe shenanigans fooled any of us. Downward facing dogs, Tiffany yearnings and a superior rice cake collection, we miss her morning round of kapalabjati breathing almost as much as her puffed rice munching ways.

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matt b

nick

claire w

juliet