Raise a glass (of milk) to Dave
A milkman who has been doing his rounds for 20 years has been recognised as an ‘unsung hero’ by the community.
Dave Havard has been waking up in the early hours of the morning and delivering milk to Ludlow residents for the past two decades.
Dave, 64, who works at Corve Dairy, has been recognised as part of Ludlow councillor Vivenne Parry’s “unsung heroes of the pandemic” campaign.
She is using her Facebook page and newsletters to celebrate some of the town’s hard-working residents.
Vivienne said: “We talk about heroes every day of the week and appreciate the fantastic jobs that people such as carers, nurses, doctors and police officers have been doing over the last year.
"However, there are many in our community that have been working hard to help residents get by.
“My particular hero is my milkman who gets up early every morning and delivers milk to local people in Ludlow.
"People don’t realise how much work goes into the job collecting the empty bottles cleaning and refilling and delivering to the right address.
Lucky
“It provides a very real service and a social link to the many, particularly elderly residents, who are effectively housebound in these difficult times.”
Dave, who has been making deliveries at 12.30am so people have milk for their breakfast, said it is an honour to be recognised for his hard work.
“When we go out, even the snow ploughers and gritters have not been out,” he said.
“We have taken on about 200 extra customers because of the pandemic. But we have lost businesses like restaurants and cafes because they aren’t open so don’t need to order.
“We are very lucky we are still working. It’s like any job, if you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it.”
Dave started out helping his parents who owned a newsagents in Ludlow by delivering the Shropshire Star to residents at just eight years old.
He started delivering milk 20 years ago and said it was nice to be thought of after this time.
