Much more than just a milkman... (From Echo)

Much more than just a milkman...

1:01am Wednesday 27th February 2008

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HE'S truly the cream of the crop. Milkman Kevin Stoneman has been delivering on the same route for 30 years.

He's the person people turn to in their community - and he's proud of it.

"I think he deserves a medal. He changes my light bulbs and puts the rubbish out. He just cares for people."

Customer Mary Phillips

Whether it's stopping burglars in their tracks, helping with odd jobs, or lending an ear to the worries of the elderly, he always has time for people in the neighbourhood.

"I go to customers' funerals", he says. "I've been invited to weddings, too. You get so involved - sometimes too involved.

Kevin works for NF Collins and Son, a small family dairy with just three floats.

"You see all sorts of things when you're out and about at that time in the morning," he adds, "If somebody's gate's open and they're not in, you think something may be up.

"I saw this guy disappear into a house once and I knew he wasn't family, so I rang the police.

"He came out holding the family dog and said he was looking after it for them, but when we asked him what dog's name was he had no idea. It turned out he'd been breaking into places all around Thorpe Bay."

But the important community role played by roundsmen like Kevin is on the decline, as an increasing number of people opt to buy cheap milk in the supermarkets.

Figures from the Milk Development Council show just 13 per cent of milk consumed at home in 2006 was delivered by the local milkman.

The industry has responded by offering customers a wider range of goods on the float - everything from yogurt,to compost, pet food, all delivered come rain, shine, or even heavy snow.

Kevin, 50, is convinced some people will always want their milk delivered - specifically because of the vital lifeline milkmen provide.

On his Thorpe Bay route, he says many elderly customers might not speak to a soul for weeks on end, were it not for the milkie's morning call.

He keeps an eye out for them - even doing the occasional bit of supermarket shopping as a favour.

He says: "One of the reasons old people have me now is they say to me if the milk's still there on the doorstep, Kevin, you will contact next door won't you?' "You just think how you'd feel if it was your mum or nan in that position."

For Mary Phillips, 85, the milkman's daily visit gives her peace of mind.

Kevin has delivered milk to her Colbert Avenue home for the past 30 years.

"I think he deserves a medal." she says. "He changes my light bulbs and puts the rubbish out. He just cares for people.

"One day, a gentleman who lives across the road on his own hadn't collected his milk and Kevin asked me to call the police, which I did.

"He was all right, but it's a nice thought that Kevin is watching out. People on the whole are indifferent today, but he cares."

Kevin is there six days a week. He leaves for work at 3.30am every day, headed for the dairy, next to the White Horse in North Street, Rochford.

On a Tuesday he is finished by 7am - leaving him plenty of time to get out on the golf course.

But such perks come at a price - the job carries its fair share of aggravation.

"You meet some toerags in the early hours," he says. "They're so confrontational. They say things like, do you want a fight?' or What about if I steal a pint of milk?'.

"I even had a guy came up to me, drunk as a skunk and say, can you give me a lift, mate?' "I told him I was going in the other direction, but as I went down the path he jumped in the float and drove off. I jumped in a cab and said, follow that float'.

"The guy said, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it' - and with that he grabbed three pints of milk and legged it down the road!"

But despite such drawbacks he admits it's not a job he could give up easily.

"I considered leaving about six years ago but one woman was in tears," he recalls. "I just couldn't do it."

To find your local milkman visit www.findmeamilkman.net

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