For a man who starts work before 3:00 a.m. , Steve Hayden has had a pretty big week.
The 68-year-old milkman from Tottenham, north London, was awarded the Freedom of the City of London at a Guildhall ceremony on Wednesday, surrounded by family and friends.
One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, freedoms are believed to have been handed out since 1237 to thank individuals for their contribution to London or public life.
Hayden, who leaves home just before 03:00 BST to load up his milk cart at a depot in Wanstead, told BBC London: “What a fantastic day. Apart from the birth of my children, this has got to be the best day ever.”
Hayden started delivering milk in 1984 after school and during the holidays, 10 years before deregulation and the abolition of the Milk Marketing Board.
In 1970, 99 percent of UK milk was delivered to the door, according to Tom Phelps, author of The British Milkman. Last year, just 3 percent of milk was delivered this way.
The Parker Dairies worker said the popularity of the milkman waned because of bad service, people not being at home during the day and the cheap price of milk from supermarkets.
Asked why he thought he was so popular, Hayden said: “I’m approachable. I always try to smile because it breaks down all barriers, even if you’re having a really rubbish day.
“I’m always, always interested in what people have got to say because everyone’s got a story, whether they’re having a bad day or a good day. I suppose I’ve always got time for them.
“The best bit is just meeting people and talking to people. I just love it.”
Hayden has twice alerted emergency services to elderly customers who had not taken in their milk. Both women had collapsed when police entered their homes.
He said: “I apologised in case I was wasting their time. The police actually said to me I’d saved their lives.
“One lady was 93, she lived to 101 and got a telegram off the Queen. When I knocked on the door to see the second woman, she actually thanked me for saving her, and all I said to her was ‘Don’t do it again!’ and we both smiled.”
Although Hayden is the only person listed on the City of London Corporation’s recipients database as a milkman, there are freemen listed as dairy salesmen and dairymen.
Brendan Barns, chair of the City of London Corporation’s culture, heritage and libraries committee, said Hayden was nominated because he is a “pillar of the community”.
He said: “People like milkmen demonstrate that serving your community should never go out of fashion.”
Hayden said he felt “an immense sense of pride” at receiving the award.
Asked if he had thought about retirement, he said: “I’ll keep doing it as long as my body wants me to.
“At the moment, I’m enjoying it: I want to do it people want me to do it. They said I mustn’t retire so while things are like that, I’ll carry on doing it.”
Read more from BBC News.
