Unsung hero: End of a dairy tale as milkman bows out

Grandfather Tony Giles, 59, from Leatherhead has been bringing milk to the borough’s doorsteps since October 1973.

In fact, he has only missed out on two delivery rounds over the years – one of which being when he was taken away in an ambulance with a broken leg.

Mr Giles said: “It is not without regret that I have decided to hang up my bag. I have fond memories of the years gone by when my three children used to help me, the oldest Robert not even born when I started, now forty years old.

“I bet my grandchildren will be grateful they won’t have to get out of bed to help me.

“I think that mostly the things I’ll miss will be my customers and work colleagues, some I have known for many years.”

He added he would always remember the way the milk business had changed with a pint of milk originally costing four and a half pence when he started as an eager 18-year-old.

Mr Giles said: “It seems hard to believe now, but we had no fridges and any milk left over stayed on the milk floats all night and went out the next morning.

“As most of the milk was full cream then, you would’ve virtually had to shake it out of the bottle.”

He added over the years he had noticed semi skimmed milk had become all the rage.

During his career he worked for Unigate Diaries Surbiton and the Royal Arsenal Co-op in Tolworth.

He did the same morning round in New Malden for 22 years.

On being nominated an unsung hero, Mr Giles said: “It went by a lot quicker than it would seem. I feel very proud to be nominated – I certainly didn’t expect anything like that but it is a nice feeling.”

Trevor Sayer, Wimbledon depot manager, said: “Anthony was the model milkman. I only had the pleasure of working with him for 18 months when I joined the depot but he gave 100 per cent to his customers at all times.  He was always reliable and all that we need in a milkman and more.”

Know an unsung hero? Call the newsdesk on 020 8744 4244 to nominate someone you think goes the extra mile.