Calling the milkman’s horse

As a kid during the war years I remember there were three milk suppliers. The Co-op Dairy, as previously stated was on Kingstanding Rd between Goodway Rd and the TA hall, which was next to the sand pit where the fair used to pitch. Their deliveries were made by green painted carts pulled by beautiful horses The Midland Counties Dairy was also on Kingstanding Rd about 3/4 mile further on just past the Settlement. Their deliveries were made by electric floats. I remember in winter when it snowed I walked to the dairy to get the milk. Wathes, Cattell & Gurden, known as “Wacaden” were the third supplier, they used vans, I used to think their dairy was up Cooksey Lane at the Queslett Rd end, but not sure. Where I lived in Hurlingham Rd the houses did not have front gardens but lay behind hedges, the milkie would load up his carriers and disappear behind the hedge delivering his milk, the horse would wait. When the carriers were empty the milkie would reappear from behind the hedge and call the horse which was a hundred yards back down the road, the horse would walk up to the milkie and the process started over again. We, as young lads would call the horse and when the milkie next appeared the cart was two hundred yards in front of him, we thought it a great joke, not so the milkie as it doubled his walk