Veteran ice cream man sells last 99 at age of 94
THE chimes of his ice cream van have brought joy to thousands of children in a small Borders town for more than half a century.
At 94, Adam Kelly is thought to be Britain’s oldest ice cream van driver – but now the pensioner, who never took a day off sick, has finally been forced to retire.
Mr Kelly is a familiar sight on the streets of Galashiels, Selkirkshire, after more than 50 years selling tubs, wafers and cones.
But the D-Day veteran made his final round last week before receiving the devastating news that his driving licence would not be renewed.
He said: ‘I went for the routine eye test but couldn’t read the numbers. They told me there and then that I wouldn’t be allowed to drive any more. I even had to get someone to drive me home.
‘There is a chance my eyes will get better after treatment but I won’t get my licence back.’
Mr Kelly was born in Denholm, Roxburghshire, on March 17, 1922. The enterprising farmer’s son had his own horse and float around Melrose and Galashiels in the late 1930s selling eggs before accepting an offer from a local creamery to become their lorry driver.
His newly-acquired driving skills were put to the test when he was called up to serve his country between 1941 and 1947. He was involved in transporting supplies to the front line, and took part in the D-Day landings in 1944.
Mr Kelly said: ‘They asked me what I had been doing before I started training – I said driving a milk tanker and they said “well done, you have passed”.
‘I was at El Alamein, Libya, Tripoli, Tunisia and Italy.’
When he returned to civvy street, Mr Kelly resumed his role transporting milk across the country.
It was during this time that he met his wife, Betty, who grew up in Edinburgh.
She was on her way to visit her cousin when Mr Kelly met her on his rounds and literally scooped her off her feet – by offering her a lift in his milk tanker. Later this year the couple will celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary.
It was in 1964 when he stumbled into the world of ice cream after he was asked to step in to help former army friend Tony Macari get some time off from his rounds.
He said: ‘Tony had an ice-cream van and, in 1964, his son John asked me if I would cover for him. Then in 1966 he gave up the van and I’ve been doing it ever since.’
He bought his latest van three years ago and had no plans to retire until last week’s news.
‘The van is parked in the garage full of ice cream, sweets and juice, and is ready to go,’ said Mr Kelly. ‘If someone is looking for a business I’ve got one here they can have.’