1920 at 'The Len Dairy', with Mr Jack Wickens grasping the reins, and his father, Mr Walter Wickens, standing resolutely in the background. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1918 Primrose Dairy, pre Primrose and Len. (Courtesy Mark Whyman)
1900's Primrose and Len bottle. John Hakeman comments "My best mate Peter used to help our local P&L milkman on Saturdays in the early ‘60s. I stood in for him when Peter was on holidays. The old milky was known as 'The General'! He was a right character shouting out directions in a nice way though. 2 pints for no 6, 1 pint of gold top for number 8, etc etc. He was just like Clive Dunn, Corporal Jones in 'Dads Army'. (Courtesy John Hakeman)
1900's Primrose and Len bottle. (Courtesy John Hakeman)
1960, Primrose and Len Dairies Receipt (Courtesy Jill Hayward0
1965 The story of Primrose and Len at Maidstone. The Malta Inn on the Medway is the last word in riverside taverns. Here, Mr Tony Hewitt prepares to service a few floating households. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 The story of Primrose and Len at Maidstone. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 The story of Primrose and Len at Maidstone. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 The story of Primrose and Len at Maidstone. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 The story of Primrose and Len at Maidstone. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Primrose & Len's head office in Lower Stone Street occupies what was once the garden of the early Georgian house on the left. Milk, delivered by bulk farm collection tankers, is bottled on site and distributed among 50 retail rounds. Dee Hatcher comments "My dad worked for Charles Arkol, that started off with a small yard there.", David Naghi comments "I helped the milkman before I went to school.". John Hakeman remembers "... school milk in 1/3 pint bottles, hot and creamy but rank in the summer sun, ice lollies in winter! On the corner of Romney Place and Stone street-the milk bar, and milk machines all over Maidstone". Betty Davies asks "Who remembers the ice cream parlour on the corner?", Kathleen Stone replies "Yes, The Milk Bar. Delicious ice cream, served from the side window." (Express News Summer/Autumn)
2023 Lower Stone St, Maidstone (Google Street View)
1965 The spacious front of Wicken's Dairies, acquired by Primrose & Len in 1961. The figures in the foreground belong to Manager Mr David Dawe and Dairy Foreman Mr Reg Smith. Frank Ward remembers that Primrose and Len also took over Griffins Dairy in Upper Fant Road, in the early 60's. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Long service is common at Primrose & Len. Rounds Supervisor Mr Cyril Large has 30 years to his credit and also turns out for the Kent Fire Brigade. Miss Eileen Anderson (centre) and Mrs Doris Garnett are less than five years behind. Both relinquished milk rounds to work in the new servery. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Left to right: Mr Jack Wickens (Director and former owner), Mr D. S. Kirby (Managing Director), Mr Don Marlow (in charge of retail expansion) and Mr Ray Smith (Dairy Manager). (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Mrs L. M. Baker, who looks after the office administration, is the sister of racing motorist Mr George Wicken, the previous owner. School milk accounts for a maior share of the trade. Mr Dave Humphrey delivers 400-gallon loads in the Bromley and Hayes area. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Lorry Foreman Mr Jack Hickmott, 18 years with Wicken's Dairies, tends a transport fleet largely composed of Thames Traders. Paul Batchelor remembers "When I first went to Primrose & Len in Tonbridge Road the mechanics were Cyril and David and Jim on body repairs. They also looked after Larkfield and Lower Stone Street depots. When those depots closed they looked after the new Aylesford and Parkwood depots. When I first went there it would have been in the 70/ 80s. I worked at the new Aylesford depot for a while installing battery chargers for the floats which were coming in from the old Larkfield depot, just down the road. I also worked at Parkwood depot for a while when Tonbridge Road and Lower Stone Street depots closed and moved into Parkwood. Tonbridge Road later became an Express Orange Juice factory." (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1966 Maidstone Dairy dinner-dance at the Star Hotel Maidstone. Lyn Taylor comments "We all worked at Wickens Dairy, Tonbridge Road Branch, with George Wickens. He was a racing driver, his sister was Lilly Baker who was our Manageress. From the right: Mary Ashby, Val Tree, Gwen Wood, Jean Perkins, standing is Sue Thompson, Jeanie Cook, Joan Drake, Florence Lawrence, Betty Crittenden, myself & Pat Marlowe, Don's daughter. The gentlemen are the husbands sitting with their wives. The Lady crouched down is Mrs Plumbly, a wife of one of the milkmen. Pat Marlowe went on to marry Mike Hodges (trainee manager & son of Jim Hodges, Express Director). Val Tree went on to marry Chris Hare who drove the milk lorries, I went on to marry Bob Taylor, he was a milkman at Romney Place branch. (Courtesy Lyn Taylor)
1968 Official Opening of Primrose and Len on 8th October, with the Mayor Alderman Peter J. Robinson, Eric Robarts, Don Kirby and John J. Wells, MP. (Express News Christmas)
1968 Bob and Lyn Taylor at a Maidstone Dairy dance in 1968; Don Kirby in the background, on the left. (Courtesy Lyn Taylor)
Express News Autumn 1968 Back Cover - Frank Reade making one of the last of his 51 school deliveries from Primrose and Len, in Kent.
1968 Opening of Primrose & Len Dairy on 8th October
1968 Delivery trip from Primrose and Len, Maidstone with driver Frank Reade
1968 Delivery trip from Primrose and Len, Maidstone with driver Frank Reade
1968 Delivery trip from Primrose and Len, Maidstone with driver Frank Reade
1968 Delivery trip from Primrose and Len, Maidstone with driver Frank Reade
1968 Frank Reade, requested by his daughter, Sally-Ann Norris who comments "It does bring back treasured memories for my brothers and sisters , we lost Dad in Feb 2003, but all remember his days on the school milk rounds."
1968 E.K. Robarts reviews a busy year, with new Maidstone plant opening, extension to Cuddington., Cork Creamery and Welling depot opening. Investments in hotel improvements also featured. (Express News Summer)
1969 Roy Rumes, laboratory head at Primrose and Len, arranges City and Guilds training for successful students Winston Terry and Mike Hodges. (Express News Christmas)
1969 Mr and Mrs George Dodd from Primrose and Len Dairies receive Long Service awards. (Express News Summer)
1972 Maidstone Assistant Manager Reg Smith receives an award for bravery. (Express News Spring)
1972 Don Kirby with Primrose and Len staff at Maidstone Merit and Service Dinner.(Express News Summer)
1972 Recent Appointments- Arthur Aylott, Maidstone Area Director. (Express News Autumn)
1972 Ski promotional team in Paignton, Devon and Primrose and Len staff at the Kent County Show. (Express News Christmas)
1973 Long service presentations for Primrose and Len, and Maidstone staff
1973 Long service presentations for Primrose and Len, and Maidstone staff
1973 Long service presentations for Primrose and Len - Ronald Waugh
1973 Crack salesman Albert Hall, Long Service Presentation at Maidstone, 6th February973
1973 Jack Wickens, former Primrose and Len owner with 45 year veteran George Cooper. (Express News Spring)
1973 Ronald Waugh with Area Director Arthur Aylott. (Express News Spring)
1973 Albert Hall, John Sellick, Eileen Anderson, Florence Whent and Don Marlow. (Express News Spring)
1973 Tim Barnett, Personnel Director, with Peter Atkinson. (Express News Spring)
1973 Roy Rumens, Tonbridge Road laboratory head, talks with Don Kirby. (Express News Spring)
1973 Maidstone veterans Cyril Large, Barry Ball and Wally Cousins. (Express News Spring)
1973 Mrs Florence Whent receives a merit award from Andrew Paterson. (Express News Spring)
1975 New Retail Depots at Exmouth, Barnstaple, Newbury, Whetstone and Maidstone
1977 Ella Lux retiring from Maidstone after 36 years, with retail director Don Marlow.
1977 - UHT production of milk and juice
1977 - UHT production of milk and juice
1977 - UHT production of milk and juice
1977 - UHT production of milk and juice
1977 - UHT production of milk and juice
1977 - UHT production of milk and juice (Lesley Thomas)
1977 - UHT production of milk and juice
1977 Christmas grins from Maidstone - Yorky Robshaw and brothers Reg and Gordon Smith
1977 Maidstone (Albert Thomas)
1979 Freezing conditions on 'Joe' Paice's round near Maidstone
1980 Apple Juice Hiccups at Maidstone with John Ellis, Sue Hunter and Tony Reid
1980 Apple Juice Hiccups at Maidstone
1980 Apple Juice Hiccups at Maidstone
1980 Marriages at Maidstone
1981 Arthur Court retires after 50 years in Kent
1982 Keith Airey awards Arthur Court of Maidstone after 50 years service. (Express News February)
1981 Pasteuriser Brian Robshaw in the UHT plant at Maidstone
1981 Fruit Juice production
1981 Fruit Juice production
1981 Fruit Juice production. Sherree Markides comments "Nick Reade, my brother".
1981 Fruit Juice production
1981 Fruit Juice production
1982 Winter snow all around the UK
1982 Winter snow all around the UK
1982 Winter snow all around the UK
1973 Rochester milkman Alf Austin retires after 49 years. (Express News Christmas)
