Whistling?….Banned!!

Milkman banned from whistling

A milkman who has been banned from whistling on his early morning rounds has questioned whether killjoys will also try to silence the birds.

Kevin Gifford’s bosses took the action after just five residents complained about him singing or whistling his favourite songs.

The father of three, 52, complained to the Sun that a whistling milkman was a “part of British life” and for the Dairy to issue him with a formal warning was “madness”.

He delivers to 340 houses a day in Leicester, and four of the complaints were not even from customers, he said, adding that they had accused him of breaching the peace, “or something ridiculous”.

“Are they going to complain about the birds singing as well? they make more noise than I do," Mr Gifford asked.

Mr Gifford, who listens to his favourite songs including 500 Miles by The Proclaimers on headphones, said that he sings if he knows the words or whistles if he does not.

The milkman, who admits that he is not very good at singing, added: "Lots of my customers love it. One lady came out of her house at 4.30am to say she thought it was wonderful, but I guess another tradition is getting a kicking.”

He complained that the warning from Kirby & West Dairy was effectively a ban as it stated he had to be quiet until 8am – when he had almost finished his rounds.

"I'm always in a good mood in the morning,” he said, remembering that in his youth the postman, milkman and binmen all used to make a noise.

“We go out in the snow, wind and rain — what's the point of being miserable? You've got to do your job."

His bosses confirmed that he had been disciplined, but insisted that they had not threatened to dismiss him.

General manager Kelvin Young said that Mr Gifford had been issued with a warning after ignoring requests to reduce the noise.

His favourite songs include God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols, Live And Let Die by Paul McCartney, Wings Love To Love You Baby by Donna Summer and King Creole Elvis Presley.