‘I felt shame’: former BA worker locked in legal battle after losing job of 30 years

Tess De Mello said she ‘took pride’ in her role at the airline and worried what colleagues would think when she was let go. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

During a 30-year career as a member of British Airways’ cabin crew, Tess De Mello took pride in a job well done, saying she regularly went above and beyond to make passengers more comfortable. To her, the role was more than just employment – it was part of her identity.

“I took pride,” she said. “I really took pride in myself, I took pride in my role, I took pride in everything because it was everything I wanted to be.”