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Milkman given Freedom of the City of London

Harry LowWanstead
News imageBBC/Harry Low A man wearing a blue Parker Dairies baseball hat and jumper with a cow logo on leans on the front of his milk cart and smiles at the camera. There are crates visible through the front window on the back of the cart. There are residential homes in the background.BBC/Harry Low
Steve Hayden started delivering milk in 1984 after school and during the holidays

A milkman who has been delivering dairy products in east London for more than four decades has been given the Freedom of the City of London.

Steve Hayden, 68, who leaves his home in Tottenham, north London, just before 03:00 BST to load up his milk cart at a depot in Wanstead, was given the honour 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 give thanks to individuals for their contribution to London or public life.

He told BBC London: "What a fantastic day. Apart from the birth of my children, this has got to be the best day ever."

In 1970, 99% of UK milk was delivered to the door, according to Tom Phelps, the author of The British Milkman. Last year, just 3% of milk was delivered this way.

Hayden started delivering milk in 1984 after school and during the holidays, 10 years before deregulation and the abolition of the Milk Marketing Board.

News imageBBC/Harry Low Man in a blue Parker Dairies hat and jumper with cow logo climbs off a milk cart while holding three bottles of milk. There are black crates with milk bottles in the back of the cart. There are residential homes in the background. BBC/Harry Low
Hayden has spent most of his career delivering milk in Wanstead

The Parker Dairies worker said the popularity of the milkman waned due to factors including bad service, people not being at home during the day, and the cheap price of milk from supermarkets.

Why does the Tottenham Hotspur season-ticket holder think he is so popular? He 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," he said.

News imageThree glass milk bottles stand in a metal holder on the doorstep of a house. Beyond them is a driveway leading to a gate. And in the background are residential properties.
Milk delivery is much less popular than it used to be

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."

News imageMaxine Beuret Two men stand next to each other. The man on the left has his hand on the shoulder of the man on the right. The man on the left is wearing a black suit, white shirt and grey tie and is holding a glass with beer in it. The man on the right is wearing a beige suit jacket, a black shirt and a red spotted tie. he is holding an empty pint glass with a picture on it. There are other people in the background. Maxine Beuret
Hayden (left) went for a pint (of beer) with friends and family after the ceremony

Although Hayden is the only person listed on the City of London Corporation (CLC)'s recipients' database as a milkman, there are freemen listed as dairy salesmen and dairymen.

Brendan Barns, chair of the CLC'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 contemplated retirement, the 68-year-old added: "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."

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