Tributes have been paid to a Royal Wootton Bassett man spent almost seven decades delivering milk to residents of the town and surrounding areas.

Stan Robins died at the age of 94, on November 27, 2022, and his funeral was held on December 19 at St Bartholomew’s Church.

Over 200 people turned up to the service to their respects.

Mr Robins is best remembered by members of the local community for supplying milk to people from the age of 20 right up to 89 years old, getting up early six days a week.

He was forced to stop when he suffered a broken leg.

His services were recognised in 2001 when he was awarded an MBE by the now King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Robins' son Stan has paid tribute to his late father.

He told the Adver: “He was amazing in every way, he was loved by all of us.

“He was a very easy-going person and very popular amongst the community.

“A couple of hours before he died, he was absolutely amazing.”

Stan worked for 17 years without a day off where he worked in all weather, and winters so cold that the milk would freeze over the top of the bottle.

He built a strong rapport with customers across the community, with many becoming friends of the family allowing the business to continue today.

Stan's sons, Mark and Adrian, joined their father on the milk rounds when they turned eight.

They now run the business themselves.

Stan is survived by his wife Di; his sons; his four grandchildren, Annabel, Emily, Josh and Beth; and his three great-grandchildren, Jack, Poppy and Orla.

He was born on January 10, 1928, to George and Ethel Robins, in Beamans Lane in Royal Wootton Bassett.

At the age of 17, Stan lost his brother Harold in 1944 during the D-Day landings in France during the Second World War.

In 1946 he first became a milkman, working for Fred Buckland of Paradise Farm, the Rope Yard.

He and Di met in 1952 when he was 24 after he spotted her in Cricklade.

Less than a year later, they were married in St Sampson’s Church in Cricklade, which was Di’s local church with Stan also manging to squeeze in a milk round on his wedding day.

He enjoyed the company of all of his family, with Stan telling his grandchildren: “It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got, your family’s your wealth”.