12 Jul 2023
There were tears and there was laughter. Residents of a St Albans community were overcome with emotion when they wished a fond farewell to retiring milkman Michael Tutton MBE, better known as ‘Mick the Milk’.
A special event marking his retirement was hosted by the Portland Arms on Saturday afternoon, where he was presented with a cheque for over £15K raised by his customers, together with various other gifts.
For more than 40 years Mick delivered milk, eggs and other groceries to 28 streets in St Albans, only calling it a day when his milk float broke down and proved beyond repair.
Kate Crick, who organised the celebrations, said: “The feedback from neighbours was super positive and I would guess there were over 200 there.
“The local community captured our love for Mick as one of the family. All of us were so proud to reflect the one-man cradle to the grave care that Mick has given us over 47 years.”
Highlights on the day included the band Cornelia and Friends personalising Fats Waller’s My Very Good Friend the Milkman while Mick danced with his two-year-old granddaughter Florence.
Mick told the St Albans Times afterwards: “It was amazing, a joy. They told me it would be a few people but then suggested a few more, and I was quite overwhelmed by how many actually turned up. It was very emotional.
“What I tried to get across on Saturday was what decent, decent people they are in that community. It’s a real bubble and I always feel so safe there. No matter what happens there will always be someone with a friendly word for you.
“I’m definitely going to keep in touch with everybody I can. My heart is there. But if I go for all the cups of teas that I’ve been invited to I’ll never see home again!”
Photos courtesy of Donald Lush.
