The Platinum Jubilee of the School Crossing Patrol service have been marked in Conservative-led East Sussex as badges and certificates were presented to lollipop men and women across our county.
Provided by Road Safety GB, the badges and certificates have been distributed to School Crossing Patrols (SCPs) by the county council as part of nationwide celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the service.
SCPs have been helping children cross the road safely since the service was officially created by the School Crossing Patrol Act in 1953. The first official patrol started work in 1954.
There are patrols at 28 schools across East Sussex including in Battle, Eastbourne, Hastings, Robertsbridge, Rye, Uckfield and Wadhurst.
Ann Martin and Pat Brabon have 90 years of patrol experience between them:
Ann has been the lollipop lady outside Mayfield Primary School for 46 years. She said: “The best thing about the job is keeping the children safe. I’m a chatty, friendly person and enjoy speaking to the parents and children every day.”
Pat started as Northiam’s lollipop lady in 1979 and has been helping children safely cross the road outside the village primary school for 44 years. She said: “I enjoy being part of the school community and I love seeing the children every day. It is a big commitment, being outside the school gates twice a day in all weathers, but the children and parents rely on me and over the years I’ve got used to the weather!”
Conservative councillor Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment at East Sussex County Council, said: “It’s wonderful that we have been able to acknowledge 70 years of the School Crossing Patrol service.
“Our patrol officers do a fantastic job helping local school children cross the road safely. They are out in all weathers and are always smiling and cheerful. I would like to thank them for their dedication to our school communities, and we look forward to many more years of the service.”
The idea for school crossing patrols came in the late 1940s when two of the newly created road safety officers in the London Boroughs of Dagenham and Barking, Jock Brining and Dorothy Pummell, recognised a growing problem with the safety of child pedestrians given the increasing volume of traffic on roads.
The nationwide service was born when the government recognised the value of having a service that crossed children at busy and difficult locations and passed the School Crossing Patrol Act in the early 1950s.
