Honours for trio of ‘lollipop’ ladies

Three long-serving school crossing patrols received MBEs in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours

70-year-old Ann Conway enjoyed a ‘family affair’ as she celebrated nearly 40 years of crossing children outside St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Chelmsley Wood in Solihull.

She was nominated by her daughter Janet, who used to accompany her in a pram when she first picked up her lollipop.

Ann said: “I am delighted to get an award for something I love doing. I am now crossing the children of those youngsters I got to know when I first started. It’s like a family affair and I wouldn’t want to give it up.

Janet Dean, also aged 70, has been helping children cross safely to Heswall primary school in Wirral for 33 years. "And I haven’t lost one yet," she said.

"When I started, I was helping my children cross the road to the school; now I’m crossing my grandchildren over. I love working with children. It’s always fun."

Finally, 45-year-old Lysbeth Ramsay can also now pin an MBE medal to her fluorescent jacket should she wish to impress her young charges.

Lysbeth has worked outside Uplawmoor school in East Renfrewshire since she was 17, and said that she enjoyed her job simply because of her love of helping children.