FOR more than 40 years the people of Blaina awoke to the familiar sound of horse patter and a friendly greeting from 'Fred the Milk'.

Fred Howells, a man who dreamed of owning his own farm when he was still in school uniform, was a daily fixture in the lives of the town's residents as he rode his horse through the streets with his milk cart in tow.

Now the story behind the making of the town's legendary farmer and milk man has been put into words - by his loving wife Evelyn.

Mrs Howell's, 64, decided to start writing about events in the couple's lives 15 years ago as she recovered from an operation.

The result was a 71-page book, The Diary of the Life of a Farmers Wife, chronicling the life of 'Fred the Milk from a child with a dream to owner of Gwaelod y Gelli Farm.

It has now been published by Abertillery publishers, Old Bakehouse Publications.

Evelyn has paid for 500 copies to be printed, and the book is on sale on the publisher's website and at Blaina post office. Reports say it is selling out fast.

"I just started recording things that had happened to us at the the farm and it ended up becoming a book.

"I did it for the pleasure of seeing it all together and Fred was pleased to see me doing it," Evelyn said.

At the age of 19, Mr Howells, now 70, bought the farm from its elderly owners. He paid the couple £2 and 10 shillings each week and took charge of the 100 acres of pasture.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Fred became one of the most-recognised figures in the area, loyally supported by Evelyn who would deliver milk to more remote places such as Bourneville and Forgeside using the farm Landrover.

"It was something she was interested in doing and I'm pleased other people are interested in reading it.

"We lead a very simple life but our life is complete.

"Blaina is my life and I love it. We don't go on holidays because we have everything we need here."

Fred continued delivering milk by horse and cart until he retired seven years ago. He is thought to be the last milk man in Britain who made deliveries in this way.

The couple have two sons, Dilwyn, 42, and Allan, 40, and five grandchildren.

They still run the farm, have a great love of horses and keep 1,000 sheep.

  • Mrs Howells' book is on sale at £9.95.