A SCHOOL crossing patroller from New Cumnock has been thanked for her service after spending more than a quarter of a century helping children get to and from classes in safety.

Wilma Rush retired recently after 26 years of service as a school crossing patroller.

Wilma was one of two retiring ‘lollipop ladies’ honoured at a special event held by East Ayrshire Council to mark the platinum jubilee of the country’s school crossing patrol service.

Provost Jim Todd welcomed patrollers from across the area and presented each one with a platinum jubilee badge marking 70 years of the service.

He said: “Seventy years of school crossing patrollers in our communities is 70 years of building strong relationships with local families and our children and young people.

“While were waiting for the event to start, colleagues were asking what we were up to and I can tell you the response was amazing - their faces lit up and everyone asked – ‘Is my lollipop man/lady going to be here?’.

“It really demonstrated the huge respect and affection that people feel towards ‘their’ school crossing patroller.

“It was a real privilege to attend this special event and offer my thanks, on behalf of the people of East Ayrshire, to this fantastic group who between them had 498 years of service to their local communities. They are out in all weather, they engage with parents and carers and with our children and young people – they really do a brilliant job.

“I was also delighted to offer my very best wishes to Wilma Rush from New Cumnock who has just retired after 26 years’ service and to Isabella Brownlee Sloan from Galston who has retired after 22 years’ service.”

The UK’s school crossing patrol service was officially created by the School Crossing Patrol Act in 1953, after two road safety officers from London, Jock Brining and Dorothy Pummell, created a service in their boroughs in the late 1940s.

School Crossing Patrollers from across East Ayrshire gathered at Council HQ recently for a special event to mark the platinum jubilee of the School Crossing Patrol Service.

Provost Jim Todd welcomed the School Crossing Patrollers, who were presented with a platinum jubilee badge and thanked for their service to their communities.

A video that was made for the celebration event was premiered then everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by Catering Services.