A LIFELONG Cuddington resident has put pen to paper in a bid to keep alive the history of the village’s dairy industry.

Former teacher Jill King has spent the past six months collating a variety of photographs, memories and information gained from the Census, to detail the life of William Horner and his creamery business, which was based on the former yoghurt factory site.

The 62-year-old, who lives on Moorlands Avenue, has a personal connection to what she believes was the ‘most important industry’ in the village, as her father worked in the creamery office for 30 years.

And Jill said her project, which will take readers back to the 1800s, will be lasting tribute to the land now earmarked for housing complex, Eden Grange.

“I thought it will be completely forgotten if we don’t do something about it,” said the mum-of-three.

“My friends kept saying why don’t you write something and I retired a couple of years ago and thought it will give me something to do - it has kept me very busy.

“The book is about William Horner himself, from his birth until he died, and the creamery itself.

“He was born way back in the 1820s and he died in 1897.

“The Horner’s company itself went on until 1963 when Express Dairies took over.”

She added: “I remember the office very well and other little bits.

“I have interviewed lots of people about it - there are quite a lot of 90-year-old’s still living in the village who remember it.

“They have just loved talking about it and it has been quite touching at times.

“I know more about my father’s work now than I have done throughout my life.

“It has really brought it home to me but I don’t want this just to be about my dad.

“I want everybody to be in here - the creamery was very important for a lot of people.”

The budding author is now appealing for residents to fill in the gaps to help complete her book, whether that be with first-hand stories, accounts or photographs of employees at the site.

“It was such an important thing for the village and we don’t want that lost,” she added.

Can you help Jill with her project? If so, email roghax@talktalk.net or call reporter Beth on 01606 813621 and she will pass on your details.

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