MILKMEN Mark and Adrian Robins are used to battling the elements to get their deliveries to peoples’ doorsteps, but the coronavirus pandemic brought a whole new challenge.

As well as maintaining supplies of different products through the lockdown, they had to make sure they didn’t put any of their customers – especially the many elderly and vulnerable ones – at risk of catching the potentially fatal infection.

Their efforts were appreciated so much that S Robins and Sons was the second Royal Wootton Bassett business to be nominated for recognition as our Trader of the Week.

The firm, which also supplies eggs, cheese and groceries, was started 66 years ago by their dad Stanley and mum Di. Stan was made an MBE in 2001 for his services to the community and he and Di only retired four years ago when he was 87 and she was 80.

Mark and Adrian started in the trade early. "From the age of 12, we used to get up early before school to help deliver the milk. We still get up early now - around 2am," said Mark.

"We love meeting people and our customers become our friends. We have some customers who have supported us for over 60 years and we have been delivering to four generations of some families. "

Over the years, with the help of family and friends, they've overcome difficulties like Adrian's hip replacement surgeries and Mark's foot injury. They've also had to change their delivery days. But the virus was something else.

Customer Tom Patterson was puzzled when he wasn't called on for payment in the usual way, so he phoned up and was told it was because they didn't want to put him at risk. "Considering we are all going through this it is nice to see that they are not only continuing to deliver to us all, but to run a business with reduced income by choice to keep everyone safe is incredible," he said.

"It’s a family run business, and many residents will tell you how happy they are to see and hear the milkman in the mornings, always smiling and waving."

Caroline Redmond agreed. "Amazing service during C19, unreal. They went above and beyond to supply consistently and to those in need.

Mark said: "The outbreak of COVID-19 created challenges for us in terms of maintaining our supplies of some products. We were fortunate and appreciative of our suppliers, including Cotteswold Dairy and The Good Egg Company, who worked hard to support us despite their own challenges.

"We feel very privileged and honoured to have been nominated. We appreciate our customers every day and are flattered to have been recognised for doing a job that we love."

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