A RETIRED Dairyman who served the people of Leigh for over half a century passed away over Christmas, aged 95.

Peter Wilkinson served the people of Leigh for more than 50 years with his family milk business; working for much of this time from 4:45am and seven days a week.

Peter was born and grew up on Grave Oak Farm, near the Greyhound, where he would accompany his father with horse and cart into Leigh to deliver milk then using milk churns and ladles.

After marrying Alice Prescott, he later moved to Timperley Lane in 1966 where his dairy business developed.

Well known around the town, the dairyman walked an average of 10 miles a day on the job and was said to be so reliable that customers began to use the sound of his milk float as their alarm clock.

The couple had two sons, Paul and Michael, and Peter lived in Timperley Lane until 2017 when he moved to Flookburgh, South Lakes, to be near his youngest son Michael.

Alice, a loyal and dedicated member of St Joseph's Players for 60 years, sadly passed away in 1996.

Living in a converted chapel with views over Morecambe Bay, Peter was a proud Grandad to Amelia, Peter and Alice and enjoyed his time in Cumbria helping Michael with gardening, poultry, vegetable growing and fruit picking.

Describing his dad, Michael said: "Physically and emotionally, he was very strong. He was really honest, a hard worker and just a really good man."

The Wilkinson family invite all to celebrate Peter's long and happy life at St. Joseph's RC Church at 1:30pm on Friday, January 21 with his burial following at Leigh Cemetery.