BRITAIN’S oldest ice cream van man gave up his weekly day off to serve cones to a Galashiels school to mark the start of the summer holidays.
Adam Kelly turned up at St Margaret’s RC Primary, where pupils and staff were given free ice cream as an end-of-term treat.
The 90-year-old parked his distinctive Adam Ices red van in the school playground and served up dozens of cones to delighted youngsters.
Adam, who works six days a week and has no plans to retire, was happy to help out for the school’s final day before the break.
He said: “The start of the summer school holidays is always a busy time for me so it was good to get in some practice at St Margaret’s.
“Technically it is my day off, but when the request came to serve the whole school, I couldn’t let them down.
“I recognised a few of the faces of the children from my rounds in the town.”
St Margaret’s Parent Council treasurer Caroline McKendrick added: “It has been a brilliant year for the school.
“The staff worked so hard to pass the inspection from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) with flying colours, while the parents have managed to raise the money to install £18,300 of new playground equipment for the children to enjoy.
“It was felt everyone deserved a treat for all the hard work that has gone on at the school this year and what better way to celebrate than paying for a Gala legend like Adam to come to the school and give everyone free ice cream.”
Adam has never had a day off sick in his 48 years serving double nougats and 99s to generations in Galashiels.
He began work at 15 on his dad’s farm driving a horse and cart, joined the army in 1941 and was in the D-Day landings in 1944.
After the war, he drove a tanker, picking up milk from farms, before starting his ice cream round in 1964.
Adam, whose Facebook page has 600 fans, said: “I wasn’t very keen at first. I’d start at 5.30am doing my milk rounds, finish at dinner time, and then go out in the ice-cream van.”
In October, Adam and his wife, Elizabeth, 84, celebrate their diamond wedding.
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