Milkman Stephen Hayden has proved to be a genuine life-saver for his local community.
During lockdown he has not only looked out for those shielding – he even came to the rescue of two of his customers.
“There were two old ladies who were living on their own. They left their milk out and I saw it, and phoned and didn’t get any answer.
“We’re creatures of habit and I knew they would have taken the milk in, that’s how I knew there was something wrong.
“So I phoned the emergency services. One had collapsed and one was lying on the sofa.
“The emergency services said I saved both their lives, any longer and they might not have been here.”
He had the chance to meet with one of them when she was discharged from hospital.
“When she came out of hospital she thanked me for saving her life. I joked and said: ‘don’t do it again,'” he said.
Stephen, 63, a milkman from Tottenham, starts his day at 3am before delivering milk and groceries to homes around Wanstead, East London.
He said: “I started off as a milkboy and I liked it, so I eventually became a milkman.”
Having done the job for 37 years, he has become something of a local celebrity.
When asked what he likes about being a milkman, he said: “Being out in the fresh air, seeing the seasons change, but mainly it’s the contact and the community feel that you get.
“You get to know families and you see the families grow up. I get invited to birthday parties, quiz nights, weddings and unfortunately funerals too!”
As a result of Covid-19, his role in the community became even more important.
“During this lockdown it became even better to have that closeness and community feel.
“For some people I was the only person they saw from the outside world.”
Traditional milk delivery services have grown in popularity in recent years.
Parker Dairies, the company he works for, employs 20 milkmen, who each deliver around 500 bottles per day around East and Central London.
Steve said: “People want to ditch the plastic and go for glass. It’s tradition as well, because we’ve got the traditional milk floats, so I think people have grabbed onto that.”
Rachel Unsworth, 60, the customer who nominated him, said: “Even before the pandemic, Steve the milkman was a hugely popular figure in our community.
“His customer base has grown, partly because people became more concerned about plastic waste, but also because he is a delight to talk to.
“He is always cheerful, interested in people and the wider world and you know that he keeps a concerned eye on everyone and would notice if anything was amiss with anyone who was vulnerable.
“These qualities made him an even more welcome sight in the neighbourhood over the past year of uncertainty and anxiety.”
