A FORMER milk delivery boy has returned to the Bournemouth care home he used to serve on his rounds 75 years ago.

George Smith was the original ‘milk boy’ at the Retired Nurses National Home in Riverside Avenue and recently came back to visit a friend who was staying at the home.

Born in 1939, George was nine years old when he started delivering the care home’s weekly milk in 1948 alongside a milkman named Lionel.

After returning decades later to visit his friend Janine Price, who was at RNNH for a respite break, George said: “Lionel and I liked our delivery to RNNH as we got to see the lovely nurses. It was quite a large weekly delivery, about 10 to 12 half pint bottles which ensured all the residents had their daily milk allowance.

“I remember Lionel used to send me up to the care home with the milk and hand deliver it to the retired nurses’ rooms. It was a lovely place and I got to have chats with all the residents.”

Originally built for the benefit of the retired nursing community, RNNH is now a residential and dementia care home.

George added: “I continued with my milk deliveries to RNNH for three years, but then for some reason, I opted for a paper round instead, which meant I didn’t get to visit the lovely nurses each week. I did miss my weekly visits.”