Lady Elizabeth Symington-fforbes (with two "ff's") replaced the telephone. Sir Charles Hardridge himself had 'phoned to inform her that he was only too pleased to welcome her grandson, Philip Symington-fforbes to his staff. He had assured her that young Philip did not know that Lady Elizabeth had requested that he be given the position, neither did he tell her that Philip's mother, the Honourable Felicity Symington-fforbes, had made the same request and had been very willing to provide a similar 'quid pro quo'.
The chain of events culminating in young Philip being offered a position as a trainee manager at Harridges started at a ladies bridge club evening.
Lady Elizabeth and her daughter-in-law were members of that rather select Tennis Club, the Chilford Ladies International Tennis Stars, or CLITS for short.
The ladies frequently met to play Bridge and one evening Elizabeth and Felicity were paired against Lady Edith Hardridge and her daughter Samantha Darling. Samantha was married to Clifford Darling the Senior Executive of Hardridges.
During a break in the proceedings Samantha asked her mother if anything had been decided with regard to taking on a trainee manager. "For the store?" asked Lady Elizabeth, "You are looking for a female trainee manager, surely one could find the right person amongst the girls who have just come down from university with a good degree.?"
Sam looked at her mother who answered the question. "It's not so easy as all that Liz, Charles wants a male trainee and to be frank Sam and I agree. I think it will be good for the company" and she paused," Sam has different reasons don't you darling?"
"Well yes," answered her daughter. "If we have a young male trainee manager in the department, be it lingerie gowns or even shoes, cant you imagine the way some of our clientele, will flock to the store. Being seen by a young man in their undies or having a young man fir their shoes, God you can imagine. Take Claire Wanderly, she would make sure she was not wearing panties if a young man was fitting her shoes and well, how old is she?"