Margaret Cattle from Cottingham in East Yorkshire has been named the longest serving school crossing patrol in the Road Safety GB Yorkshire and Humber Region, after clocking up exactly 43 years’ service.
Margaret has been named a winner in a popular competition to recognise and reward some of the country’s longest-serving school crossing patrols (SCP).
Under the competition, run by the SCP uniform supplier Keltic Clothing, the longest-serving SCP in each Road Safety GB region will receive a bottle of champagne and long-service badge, and each member of their team will receive a STOP cupcake. The competition attracted more than 100 entries.
Margaret, who started as a patrol in 1972 and currently works on a busy road carrying a high volume of traffic, said: “I love the children telling me all their news and have made so many friends and acquaintances over the years. It gives me something to get up for in the morning.
“Most of the children who cross now, I’ve shown their mums and dads and even their grandparents across when they were young, so I know all the family.
“I’ve seen my own grandchildren across the road too. I was going to give up when some of them left school, but I’ve just carried on because I love it.”
Laura Mellett, account supervisor at Keltic Clothing, said: “It’s such a fantastic achievement. We’re happy to be involved and see someone get recognised for such a big contribution.
“We hope that, in a small way, our competition will give some well-deserved recognition to what we consider to be an integral part of road safety as well as great British heritage."
Mrs Cattle celebrated her award by giving out lollipops to some of the pupils of Bacon Garth, Westfield and Hallgate primary schools, and Cottingham High School, who regularly use her crossing.
Excellent! I wouldn’t mind betting that SCPs up and down the country have potentially saved hundreds or even thousands of lives in the 60 years since they were introduced.
Paul Biggs, Staffordshire
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