"SOME time ago in Looking Back, you highlighted a milk float delivering in the Heaton area in the late 1950s, early 60s," writes Mr Keven Haywood, of Chorley Old Road, Heaton. "I thought someone would write in with more information, but they didn't, so I have put pen to paper."

Serves you right, Mr Haywood; you should not delay these things!

"I remember the school holidays when I was between eight and 11 years old - 1957-61 - 'working' at Clough Farm on Chorley New Road, whilst I lived with my parents at Overton House, a few doors away. The farm is now a private dwelling, and the yards and top field which fronted Victoria Road has been taken by housing.

"The farm at that time was owned by Jimmy Pendlebury, and I remember well old Bob, Fred, Alan (who died from an electric shock), and Mary, who married one of the Thornton's butchers family.

"The milk float in the photograph was usually driven by old Bob, and the cart horse was called Dobbin. When not working, Dobbin grazed on Albert Road, Heaton, on a field now occupied by bungalows.

"I used to accompany Bob around the New Hall Lane, and Greenmount, areas. It was a slow process to get there from the farm, but I would jump off the back of the float, deliver the milk, and catch up higher up the road. It probably was as effective as today in a confined area of delivery concentration.

"My other great memory is bringing in the cows from the fields at the junction with Beaumont Road and Chorley New Road, which is again now a housing development. Most days of the week I could be seen bringing the herd to the farm for milking, whilst riding on the back of my favourite cow Lightening. The traffic would wait patiently whilst the herd moved slowly along Chorley New Road.

"However, to my dismay, some 'do-goodee' reported the fact of me riding a cow to the RSPCA, and they wrote to the farm complaining that this act of riding a cow could be seen as cruelty (I was about 10 at the time).

"My life on the farm was a great experience for a young boy of that age, and I was paid the princely sum of 2s (10p) for helping out. The farm had its own cook, who baked her own bread and provided great breakfasts and lunches. I forget her name, but it came as a great surprise when she later appeared as cook at both my prep school, Harecroft Hall in Cumbria, and at St. Bees, Cumbria. However, she didn't stay long - her cooking was too good for us!

"Finally, I relate a story on the farm. One day Alan and I were showing some friends through the shippons at milking time. One of the ladies was standing to the rear of a cow in its stall, when it started to relief itself from both orifices, whilst having a cough at the same time.

"This, as we all know, projects everything leaving the cow at about 20mph straight backwards, and if you happen to be there you need a good hosing down afterwards.

"Unfortunately, the lady in the party failed to move quickly enough, and her nice white suit was changed to brown in a matter of seconds."

After that, Mr Haywood, I can't even think of a comment that I could possible use in a family newspaper . . .