A MILKMAN who herded his cows daily across County Bridge in Malton has passed away aged 97.

Colin Corney, was well-known locally for delivering every one’s daily pint, originally by horse and cart, ladling the milk from a churn and moving the herd from Bark Knotts Farm, in Welham Road, Norton to Orchard Fields in Malton.

Born on the July 28 1923, Colin was the second child and only son of Tom and Alice Corney. He has an older sister, Joan who is now 99 and two younger sisters, Milly and Margaret.

Colin joined the RAF at the age of 19 in 1942. He trained as an engineer and was posted to 95 squadron, where, after initially being based in Scotland, he joined 95 squadron at its base at Jui, near Freetown, Sierra Leone.

His nephew, Peter, said Colin’s role was as a fitter, helping maintain the squadron‘s Sunderland Sea Planes.

“The Sunderland’s were used to provide eyes in the sky against German submarines and naval craft looking to target convoys of allied ships. The squadron would be rebased in Bathurst, Gambia before Colin later returned to the UK and worked on some of the RAF’s first jet powered planes. Torn between staying in the RAF and returning home Colin left the RAF to return to Bark Knotts and help with the family farm.”

“On Colin’s return he married Alice who he met as an evacuee from Cardiff. In the 1970s Colin rented grazing at Orchard Fields and after milking each morning his herd stopped traffic as they made their way back to the fields across the railway crossing and bridge from Norton to Malton, with a repeat performance in the late afternoon for evening milking and a night in the barn.”

Peter said: “Colin eventually retired from the milk delivery business and was well known as an avid gardener, putting his skills to use at use Hawthorns Nursing Home, Norton, as the gardener.

“Sadly, Colin passed away on August 28 having spent his retirement years living in Norton, with Alice and later been cared for in Ashfield care home.”

A private family funeral was held at Octon crematorium.

Peter added: “This would be a good time to remember Colin whilst you are having your morning cuppa and breakfast cereals.”