STORIES from former employees of York’s chocolate dynasties have been pouring in to the creators of York’s new chocolate attraction.

The Sweet History Of York has attracted tales of mischief, romance and gluttony, some of which will form part of the exhibitions at the Kings Square visitor attraction, when it opens next spring.

Dennis Wells remembers traipsing into Terry’s York factory on his first day in 1968, aged only 15 and dressed in overalls three sizes too big for him.

He said: “All they could do was laugh at my oversized overalls. One commented that I looked like a refugee from the Second World War and I felt so embarrassed I just wanted to go home.”

But the jokers became good friends and two years later, Dennis met his wife Carol in the same department. They have been happily married now for 38 years and have two children and three grandchildren.

Karen Watson started working at Terry’s because her mum, who also worked there, would smell so delicious when she came home from work.

Starting on a six-week contract, Karen stayed for 22 years and became the first woman moulding plant operator.

She said the workers got up to “all kinds of mischief”, such as sending newcomers round the factory strapped into metal cages with sticky tape and cling film, placing them in a Waifa spread wagon and coating colleagues in starch on their birthdays.

Karen also travelled to Poznan in Poland to put what she considered “her baby” back into working order in the new factory when it moved from York.

Catherine Suter, who now lives in California, worked the evening shift at Rowntree Mackintosh for six years, packing Black Magic, with other young mothers who could not leave their children during the day.

She said they would compare tips on housekeeping and bringing up their children and select their favourite records to be played over the loudspeakers.

Employees were allowed to eat as many chocolates as they liked during the shift, but not to take them home.

“It was a rare treat when occasionally we got to pack Dairy Box milk chocolates and I really went to town on those,” she said.

If you would like to share your memories of working in York’s chocolate industry, write to My Story, St Edmund’s House, Margaret Street, York, YO10 4UX or visit sweethistoryofyork.com to share your memories.