IT’S the end of an era in Grimethorpe as a throwback to its past the village’s last milkman puts down his bottles after clocking up more than 40 years’ service.
After decades of delivering milk to the homes of locals, 61-year-old Trevor Inman, is finally leaving the profession behind, with his final delivery taking place yesterday.
While big companies still make deliveries to the door, Trevor represented the last of the traditional self-employed milkmen, a well-known face who’s close to all his customers.
He told the Chronicle: “I love my customers they’re not even customers, they’re more like friends.
“I’ve been to their weddings and funerals, one even asked me to take power of attorney for them.
“We go out together. I’ve met so many wonderful people.”
Voted as Milkman of the Year in 2002, Trevor spent most of his life working alongside his two younger brothers, who he took under his wing when he first started all those years ago.
Unfortunately, his youngest brother Andy left a few years ago, and middle child David stepped back from the job in July to become a taxi driver, leaving Trevor as the last vestige of this once popular service.
“It’s honestly been a lovely job, but for the past few years it’s got difficult,” Trevor added.
“In Covid everyone wanted to hire us, but as that’s eased we’ve sort of been kicked into the dust it’s really demoralising and knocks the stuffing out of you.
“It’s been intimidating when I’m out at night making deliveries there’s so much antisocial behaviour and always one thing or another.
“Then my van broke down a few weeks back and it’s such an expense to fix it.
“It was the straw that broke the camel’s back, I had to ask if I wanted to work for another two years to pay off a new van.”
The once passionate milkman ended up depressed with the constant strain caused by over 70 hours of work a week, and after seeing how happy both of his brothers were decided it was time to stop.
“My kids and wife have pointed out that I’ve been depressed in the past few months.
“There’s a lot of mental strain I look at David and he’s happy as Larry now so I realised it was time to step back.
“We’ve saved and saved over the years so I’ve got no reason to keep doing it.
“But in my heart I’m a worker and that’s not going to stop.
“I’ve got two interviews at the minute, so if people want to take me on at 61 years old then I’ll go for it.”
Yet, even after all the struggles, Trevor admits that it’s not easy leaving.
“It is sad and I’ve shed some tears, but it is what it is.
“I appreciate all the lovely people I’ve been able to work with.”
