Warmley Delivery Men
This month’s “memory” celebrates those popular characters from years gone by: the many men (and women) who delivered provisions, drinks and milk to customer’s homes.
The first photograph features a popular local milkman, Denis Bryant, who delivered milk across the Warmley, Wick, Kingswood, Oldland, Mangotsfield and Staple Hill areas for 53 years, finally retiring in 1986 at the age of 68. Denis prided himself on never letting any customer down, even in the very worst winters. Denis’s son, Alan, followed in his father’s footsteps before he also retired, and is now joint curator of Kingswood Heritage Museum.
The photograph (below) features Tommy Thompson, a travelling greengrocer who lived in Stanley Road and delivered vegetables around the Warmley area for over 43 years. Tommy uniquely persevered with horse drawn transport long after others “went mechanised”. His cart was pulled by five different horses over these years, including Marcus (featured also in the photograph), who joined him in retirement in 1974.
You can find out more about these and other local characters by viewing the displays featuring Warmley in Kingswood Heritage Museum.
Kingswood Heritage Museum would like to hear from any of our readers who remember these, or other local delivery drivers. If you have any memories that you would like to share please contact us on 0117 960 5664 or by email at: kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com