STEVE HAYDEN. WANSTEAD'S MILKMAN.
FLOATING SINCE 1978.
They say you don't learn to be a milkman, you're born a milkman, but I had to wait until I was at school to help out on a round, Then at that age I could see myself being in the trade. I did enjoy school in Tottenham in the Sixties, but whereas most kids mess about in their early teens, I saved that until the 6th Form, so I came out of school with nothing. I'd also been doing a paper round and I worked in a shop for a while, but I think I was pining for the whine of the electric milk float!
I passed my driving test and applied for a job at the United Dairies Depot in Edmonton, and after about six weeks training there I was, on my own round at 19 years old, and I've never looked back (except when reversing obviously!) In those days, the float used to be loaded up for you, and the empties taken off at the end of the day but now, we do it all ourselves which makes the working day much longer. I was at the Edmonton Depot for ten years, then at a private dairy in Waltham Abbey for another ten, then back to Edmonton for a while, then here. Whenever I was new to a round, I always wore my Spurs cap, because that was a guaranteed way to get chatting. North London was pretty safe from that point of view, but I might think twice about wearing that cap if I had a round in Millwall!!!
I've always liked chatting with people, and hearing their point of view - everyone has a point of view, and they are invariably different to each other, which is what makes people so interesting. It certainly makes my life better and I can put faces, names and characters to the orders I deliver to their doorsteps. I get the odd complaint about the time I deliver but I've got to start somewhere, and although I'd love to be everywhere early, of course, it's not possible.
On this particular round, I've got to know some people so well, that I've been invited to their housewarming and birthday parties, quiz nights, and I've even had the privilege of attending a funeral. I'd got to know this Arsenal fan and his family after I knocked on his door for his money when Arsenal were 2 - 0 up against my team, their great rivals, Tottenham, so you can imagine the banter. But when Spurs turned it round and won 3 - 2, I had to return and give him some banter back!!! It was all very good natured of course and since then, we'd all got on really well, so when he died of a heart attack, far too young, I was very honoured when his family asked me to attend his funeral.
The more you put in to this job, the more you get out. So you try and help out a bit. Some of my customers have my mobile number and one morning I got a text to look out for a dog, and I spotted her and held on until the owners came. I got given a bag of wine gums from the dog as a thankyou!! Whenever I find keys in the front door lock I pop them through the letter box, and when the milk is out on the step for more than a day or so I'll check up, especially if the person is elderly. On one such occasion the neighbour and I went in and the lady had been unable to get out of her chair for two days. We called the medics and they think we saved her life!
I've seen some right goings on of course and I get told who is doing what to who and all sorts, but my lips are sealed. I'm a bit of an Agony Aunt, especially to older customers who like a chat on the doorstep with stories of their life. It's definitely more than just delivering milk but I prefer it that way.
We deliver bags of compost, free range eggs, loo rolls, orange juice, bread, bottles of water, and the odd bottle of milk! You need a good memory for this - I have a quick look in my book before I start the round to check for any alterations, then it's off to 500 plus customers each day, and I realise I don't then look at my book once! Even if people leave a note out with the empties, invariably you know what's going to be on that note before you read it! It's mostly middle aged to quite elderly people we deliver to but things are changing, with some younger customers now as well.
Even though it spoils my social life I've always loved this job, but the winter is cold, especially this last one. My fingers stayed cold to the bone for three days at a time. Up at 2am, first delivery at 4.30, home by noon, quick kip at 6pm, then finally to bed at 9. It's always been a six day week, and, yes, it's hard work. But today it's lovely. Blue skies, nip in the air, blossom on the trees, my favourite time of year. Wouldn't swap it for the world!