Memories of my childhood milk rounds and ponies in Leeds

MY memories of glass bottled milk are beyond those standing on the doorstep.

In the late 30s and very early 40s, the local boys in Oakwood Lane, beside the advancing Gipton Estate development, spent much time in and around Goodall’s Farm where we washed the bottles, ready for the milk from the cows which we helped gather in from the fields opposite.

After pasteurisation and cooling, we bottled, capped and crated ready for the next delivery to houses in the Oakwood Lane and Foundry Lane.

We accompanied the milkman, Johnny Kneeshaw, leaping off the cart to quickly run to the houses, place the half or one pint bottles on the step and collect the empties to return to the cart which was pulled by the horse Tony.

As well as the crates of bottles, there were a couple of milk churns because not everyone wanted their milk in a bottle so Johnny went to the house to measure milk from his ‘ladin’ – ladling – can into the customer’s bowl or jug. Not everyone needed a half or a pint so the milkman had a gill measure, a third of a pint.

The round completed, the cart was turned round and, for Tony, job done, he headed for home, often breaking into a gallop, urged on by we excited young helpers.

In the stable, which we often ‘mucked out’, his harness was removed and he was watered and fed in readiness for the next deliveries.

At this time the fields extended to the A64 and at haymaking time, for the winter cow-feed, was spent turning the mown hay and later stooking the corn sheaves for thrashing for feed and bedding straw.

Sadly, such urban experiences are no longer as housing development saw the Goodall Farm move to Scarcroft where the descendants continue to produce a large volume of bottled milk, still with cream at the top of the bottle.

From: Andrew Hicks, Moorview Way, Skipton.

IT seems to me that people can panic buy rice, pasta and toilet rolls for some considerable time, the only limiting factor being how much room they have to store their purchases.

Only a small quantity of milk can be stored in freezers due to the smaller capacity, so it is surprising that the quantity of milk one can buy at the supermarkets is limited to two quarts.

It is likely that the demand for milk has increased. We cannot drink in pubs, restaurants or coffee shops, so if we are making our own tea and coffee, we will require more milk which should be available for the supermarkets to buy as the above mentioned outlets are not buying milk. I normally buy four quarts of milk, once a week, but in the last 12 days I have been to the supermarket five times. First I went for my weekly shop but was only allowed three bottles of milk.

Two days later I went to get another bottle, but they had no milk. Two days later I went again and got one bottle. Three days later I went to do my weekly shop and was restricted to two bottles. Four days later I went back for the other two.

I know this policy is to ensure that everyone gets some milk, but the unintended consequence is that I expose myself to potential virus five times instead of two.

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James Mitchinson

Editor