Derby: Woman, 93, has cookies left for bin men every 50 years

A generous pensioner has vowed to continue giving weekly packets of biscuits to her local bin collectors.

Hilary Manester, who lives in Mickelover, Derby, has been supplying the sweet treats for more than 50 years.

The tradition began when she lived in nearby Alvaston with her now-deceased husband.

But Hilary, 93, still makes sure to save packs of McVities Chocolate Digestives – or the occasional Fox’s Milk Chocolate Rounds – when sipping to Tesco.

The weekly conversations about cookies and trash cans mean more than workers realise, she explained.

She told Derbyshire Live: “It’s a terrible job and they’re out in all weathers. It’s so nice of them to come up and get the bins. And they are so thankful.

“They always say thank you and tell me they’ll have it with their coffee when they come back.”

Because of her age, Hilary can’t bring the trash cans out in front of her driveway.

Instead, the friendly garbage men knock on her door to get the key to the garage from her, take the garbage cans, empty them and lock them again.

Despite her age, Hilary keeps busy making dolls for sick children, children going through chemotherapy.

Having had cancer herself, she knows how exhausting the experience is.

Hilary, who described herself as ‘Derbyshire born and Derbyshire raised’. “Strong in arms but weak in mind,” was asked by Derbyshire Live about the reason behind her many good deeds.

“It’s just me,” she replied.

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