Your feel-good stories of lollipoppers
Once the steady presence that meant parents could send their children off to school with a little peace of mind, lollipoppers are fewer and further between, these days.
Together with Churchill, who aim to get more lollipoppers out on the roads, we asked gransnetters to share their memories of the men and women who've helped them and their children get to the other side for years. Here's what you said...
Share this on Facebook
Lollipoppers are for everyone
"The lady who looks after the kids from our local primary school doesn't discriminate on grounds of age! She always makes sure that any elderly ditherers (including me) at the kerbside are delivered safely to the other side of the road. She does it with a smile and a cheery wave."
Human or otherwise
Image credit: collegehumour.com.au
"Our Labrador/Collie cross used the lollipop lady to visit the local butcher's shop on his own. He would take himself to the pavement's edge and sit patiently till she crossed him over. Then he'd sit patiently outside the butcher's shop till he got a treat, and then he'd reverse the whole process and come home! Don't know what he'd have done if he'd got held up at the butcher's!"
They could be closer to home than you expect
Image credit: reactiongif.com
"My grandad was a lollipop man in the 1960s in Brockley, SE London. He had officially retired from the S.E. Railway, having worked his way up to being a steam train driver. He took his lollipop duties very seriously and woe betide any driver who tried to ignore him as he was shepherding the children across the road. I remember being so proud of him when I visited and saw his metal lollipop pole propped up in the hall! And the children all loved him to bits."
And you really shouldn't mess with them
Image credit: giphy.com
"I had a sneaking admiration for our local lollipop man, Reg. He took his duties very seriously and would brook no nonsense from the mad drivers he had to deal with. He'd keep particularly awkward ones waiting just as long as he possibly could, and fix them with his gimlet stare."
Because they're unsung heroes
Image credit: reactiongifs.com
"We have a young woman called Jenny, who has been a lollipop lady on our very busy road for years. It is such a busy and dangerous road that a 51 year old woman was knocked down and killed in a hit and run incident on this same road only last week. I think we forget just how brave these people are - as well as kind."
...even if they do have to deal with pranksters from time to time
Image credit: giphy.com
"The children were usually very good but there were a few lads who were lovely - but also little beggars! One day they crossed, then wedged a match into the pelican button. This caused the lights to change regularly even when there was no one to cross. You can imagine who the drivers blamed and the language that came from some of them! The next day the headteacher described to them in no uncertain terms what had happened and what would happen to them if they ever did it again. They were so contrite. They hadn't meant to cause me any trouble, it was just a prank. From then on they were as good as gold."
Because their presence makes everyone safer
Image credit: Imgur.com
"I was at junior school in the seventies, and still remember clearly Mrs Mudd our lollipop lady. She was lovely, friendly, and we all liked her. The same school now has a pedestrian crossing outside, so no lollipop lady, but I frequently see children risking the dash across the road rather than waiting for the little green man - this would never have happened in Mrs Mudd's day!"
Do you have a memory that you'd like to share? Add it to the thread.
Images: Shutterstock