Mrs Allen was an applicant for the position of sales assistant at Gamma Garments in 1965. Mrs Allen progressed to the interview stage and was the first of three candidates to be seen by Gamma's personnel manager Alex Soames at the Morton Towers Hotel.
As she waited with fellow applicant Elsie Tanner, Mrs Allen looked to her companion as if to start a conversation, but Elsie didn't notice as she was busy lighting a cigarette. They were interrupted by Mr Soames a moment later, who took Mrs Allen through to the office.
After her own interview, Elsie heard Mr Soames on the phone commenting that he'd had one possible. As Elsie ultimately got the job, this indicates that Mrs Allen was already out of the running.