End of an era: Goodbye Andy
Jenny Thornhill
Last week, Andy retired. He came to the farm twenty-one years ago, recruited by Tom to run the milk round. When I moved to Forest Row, Andy delivered my milk; I never saw him and there was never a mistake on my delivery or bill. He was so careful and conscientious.
When the milk round ended Andy began working in the shop, and then, later, when I began working in the shop, I finally met my milkman, who was able to tell me what milk he used to deliver to my house!
Andy has been a stalwart on the farm, always willing, always a gentleman, and, more often than not, dressed in a suit.
A few years ago, Andy reduced his working hours and preferred to do jobs behind the scenes including the trips to Infinity Bakery in Brighton to collect bread and other supplies from local producers based in and around Brighton.
Now Andy has gone and it’s a new era, a post-Andy era, which still seems very strange. For me particularly, Andy was a rock and was always ready to help if needed. He was the longest standing employee on the farm and that honour now falls to Abra, followed by Liz and then me.
We wish Andy all the best and hope he’ll come back and visit… He wanted to slip away without a fuss and so we were delighted that he accepted a Plaw Hatch sheepskin as a gift so he couldn’t forget us and the farm.
