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60 years dedicated service, now that's 'milking' it!
60 years of early mornings have helped put a spring in the step of Dale Farm milkman, Bill Ferry. 74 year old Bill, from Park Avenue in Londonderry, could well be the world’s longest serving milkman, having begun his career with his father’s round at the tender age of just 14 years old!
Major changes to the daily milk round have occurred since Bill first started delivering from the back of a horse and cart in 1947. Back then, milk was measured out to the customer from old milk cans. However the introduction of milk bottles in the late 1940’s revolutionised the job and Bill’s father was one of the first to pioneer the new delivery method of bottles of milk.
Still sprightly and happily delivering milk today, Bill says “I can remember years ago we would actually deliver milk into some people’s kitchens. The milkman was a very important part of the community and sometimes, I was the only person our older customers would see all day.”
Bill continues “I am delighted to see that a lot of people still want milk delivered to their doorstep today. We also do a lot more deliveries to shops nowadays but my favourite part of the job has always been the contact with customers and some of them have been getting their milk delivered from me for the last 60 years.”
Nigel Cairns, Milk Sales Manager from Dale Farm, greatly values the continuity of service that Bill has delivered, “Growing up, milk on the doorstep was a familiar start to everyone’s day”, and it is a credit to Bill that he is still bringing this vital service to the community today. Milk is an important part of our daily diet and I know our customers appreciate the convenience of having it delivered to their door.
“Bill’s pleasure and energy in delivering up to 16 crates of milk a day is an inspiration and we at Dale Farm are immensely proud to have him as part of our delivery team.”
Bill and his sons, John and William, deliver over 200 crates throughout Londonderry per week and Bill insists that the early mornings are far too much fun to even think about retiring!
