Derry milkman retires after 54 years of serving his community

A local Derry man finished his last milk run as he recently retired after 54 years of delivering milk to his local community. 

William Ferry will now enjoy retirement after a lifetime of bringing milk to his community. 

The local community have paid tribute to the man who became an important part of their lives. 

They said: “We would love to show our recognition and many thanks to William ferry for his many years of dedication and service to the community. 

“William put his heart and soul into his work and his customers over time, following his late fathers footsteps in the milk industry. 

“He began many years ago at just the young tender age of 11 out with his father delivering door to door.  He began his journey ‘back in the day’ by horse and cart, delivering ‘milk bottles’ in the neighbourhood. He has many tales and stories to tell as he worked through the hard times and troubles. 

“In his words, has many vivid memories of ‘bullets flying past his head’. He went on to make many, many friends, as time went by, and the milk cart upgraded to a van. 

“William is a man of routine; and routine it sure was each and every day. 

“All of his many helpers, sons included (and now down to the grandson) have read the small print in the daily mirror and derry journal as he chatted that long in every house or shop he went into when collecting money..” loading the van” meant we do it, he goes to the bookies… he always treated the lads to a Chinese on a Friday back in the doorstep days and then a fry in Doherty’s in Foyle street on a Saturday morning when the doorstep run had gone, after his road accident though he only got a ‘diet bap’ sausage bacon egg cause he had to lose weight… he enjoyed a time out and a bag of crisps on a Saturday afternoon from Mickey Clifford’s, loved the oul sausage n tomato flavour.

“Like I say; man of routine, he stopped at his Aunt Mary’s in Shantallow on a Friday afternoon for tea and ham baps with the lads and to read the journal back to front and chat nonsense with Mary.

“He is a lover of life in general and this went to show through his love for continuing on his fathers business, he loved a laugh and to join in a good oul snowball fight with the residents of Glenowen , Shantallow and Ballymac.

“William is well known in the community, looked up to and respected by many. 

“You only have to ask anyone, and can assure you every answer will be the same ‘a true gentleman’ nothing is ever to much for him, as he greets everyone with a smile on his face.

“If he had his way he would still be driving the van doing the run, following his fathers footsteps for many years to come, unfortunately sometimes life takes a certain change, this will certainly be the end of an era, he will miss and be missed.”