You can't lick this job, say lollipop patrol stalwarts

LIFE as a lollipop lady has brought many rewards for mother-of-three Rose Makepeace.

She began ushering children from Redland School, Chippenham, across the road safely in October and she loves the work.

"The children make the job special," she said. "They are always so polite and cheerful and grateful."

The rain and winter weather proved daunting at first, but 37-year-old Mrs Makepeace said her friendship with the youngsters had more than made up for an occasional soaking in a rainstorm.

The youngest of her three children, eight-year-old Kaya, is a pupil at the primary school, where Mrs Makepeace also works as a mid-day supervisory assistant.

"The kids make the job worthwhile. They are very well behaved and do as they are told. Every day they say good morning to me," she said.

Wiltshire County Council pays £5.45 an hour to patrols and Mrs Makepeace works from 8.30am until 9am, and from 2.55pm to 3.45pm.

Many children walk to the school, and many dropped off by car nearby still use the crossing patrol to get to school safely.

Although she thought bad weather was the worst aspect of the work, Mrs Makepeace said job satisfaction more than made up for it.

"The job only takes half an hour or so, so even if I get wet I'll soon be home again," she said.

From time to time an impatient driver causes a problem revving at the crossing patrol. "I have had a couple, but nothing major," she said.

"I try not to hold up the traffic and make sure a few children cross at a time."

Come Christmas time Mrs Makespeace, 37, is deluged with cards and gifts from the grateful pupils, and many remember her birthday, too.

She even received the gift of a Mickey Mouse lollipop from Disneyland after the Easter holidays.

At Christmas time Mrs Makepeace got into the spirit of the occasion when she decorated her patrol sign with tinsel and wore festive ear-rings. She also dressed up and joined in the fun on Red Nose Day.

"I know all the children at the school, and I hope to keep on the role as long as my daughter stays there," she said.

"I enjoy the job and it fits in around my children. What more could I ask than that?"

In Devizes, Bob Ford is well known to school children, parents and motorists.

Mr Ford is the lollipop man who helps people cross the road at the top of Potterne Road.

His cheerful manner is infectious and in between helping children and adults across the road he waves and gives the thumbs up sign to motorists.

Mr Ford, who is married with two teenage children, helps children cross the road to Devizes School, Southbroom Infants', Southbroom Junior, as well as Wansdyke School and St Joseph's School.

He's has been doing the job for five years and has missed just one stint when he was having false teeth fitted.

He said: "I spent three hours at the dentist. It was in the afternoon so I was unable to be there to help the kids returning home from school but I was there the next morning."

Mr Ford works 11 hours a week and earns £244.10 a month.

He has encountered the occasional grumpy motorist, including the man who asked whether he should be helping someone in an invalid carriage cross the road.

Mr Ford, 67, told the motorist he was allowed to do so and the motorist apologised.

School crossing patrols had their powers extended in 2001 so they could help adults cross the road as well as children.

Mr Ford, a retired lorry driver, of Roseland Avenue, Devizes, intends to carry on until at least his 70th birthday.

He said: "It's a smashing job. You get to know all the kiddies and all the motorists going by, it's brilliant.

"The money I get helps to pay a few bills but more importantly the job stops me from sitting indoors all day which I would not enjoy."

He said some motorists were impatient and did not like to be stopped but he said most people know he works there and are prepared.

He said: "Sometimes I don't have to get in the middle of the road for the motorists to stop, they stop for me before I have got there."

He is appreciated by the schoolchildren, most of whom greet him when they cross the road, and at Christmas time he is given presents, usually chocolates, from them.

Potterne Road resident Mel Butler makes Mr Ford a cup of coffee to help him through his morning stint.

Mrs Butler, who has a son at Southbroom Junior School, said: "Bob is very cheerful and provides a valuable service to the community. We are lucky to have him."

Wiltshire County Council has enlisted the help of a zebra from Longleat Safari Park to help recruit more lollipop men and women.

The campaign posters show the zebra nicknamed Debra being helped across the road by Calne lollipop lady Leanne Smith.

Debra is part of a 12-strong herd of Grants zebras that live alongside a group of giraffes in a 60-acre reserve at Longleat.

Alison Lawrence, who manages the school-crossing patrol service for Wiltshire County Council, said: "We wanted to create a novel and entertaining way to attract more people to perform a vital role that is both rewarding and important to the safety of Wiltshire's school children."

Longleat Safari Park deputy head warden Ian Turner said: "We were surprised when the council first approached us, but were delighted to be able to contribute in some way to improving road safety for young people.

"Ironically, our herd of zebra is extremely good at road crossing. They are used to cars and other vehicles travelling through their spacious enclosure and have become model pedestrians."

Mrs Smith, who works at St Dunstan Church of England Junior School in Calne, said: "This is the best job in the world and I love it. It is wonderful working with children and I enjoy meeting the parents as well. It is a very friendly, sociable job, and the working hours are convenient for me, too."

There are currently 15 vacancies for lollipop wardens in the county including at Lyneham Junior School, Broad Hinton Primary School, Holy Trinity School at Quemerford and St Barnabas School in Market Lavington.