After 39 years in the job, a Merton milkman will deliver his last pint tomorrow morning before he retires.

In spite of the 4am starts, dog bites, cat scratches and mornings out in the rain, Gerald Harding said that he thoroughly enjoyed his job over the years.

Mr Harding, 63, said: “I feel both excited and sad about my last round tomorrow, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. Being a milkman is the last thing I thought I would do.

“I worked as a buyer for an electrical wholesalers for ten years but I was looking for something better paid. My father-in-law was a milkman and suggested I give it a try and I’ve been a milkman ever since.”

Wimbledon Times:

Depot manager Trevor Sayer wishing him well.

The grandfather-of-one who lives in Knollmead, Tolworth, lives on his round so will still see his customers and said he was always impressed by their generosity during the countless charity collections he has done over the years.

Gerald also used to participate in sponsored walks organised by the company and has raise countless funds for children’s charities.

He said that he has been bitten by dogs and scratched by cats many a time but believes it is something that goes with the territory.

Mr Harding, who works for the Wimbledon branch of Dairy Crest, has been forced to retire because of his bad knees, which he is having surgery on in April at Epsom Hospital.

As for his retirement plans, Gerald, a keen ten-pin bowler, hopes to travel to either Australia or Canada once he has recovered from his knee surgery.

He is optimistic about the future of the milk trade, and said: “When I first started some of my co-workers were saying the industry would only be around for another five years.

“Although we are now delivering groceries as well the milk, I do hope they keep the traditional glass milk bottles. It wouldn’t be the same otherwise.”

Trevor Sayer, depot manager at Dairy Crest Wimbledon said: “Gerry has had a brilliant career as a milkman and has been an invaluable member of our team.”

The milk-bottle baton will be passed on to Lee Cordrey, who has delivered milk in the area for 20 years.