Medway Council celebrated the 70th anniversary of the school crossing patrol (SCP) service with an event earlier this summer.
The event was held at the Guildhall Museum in July, with Cllr Nina Gurung, mayor of Medway, and Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, both in attendance.
Members of the SCP service attending the event received a commemorative certificate and badge before enjoying an afternoon tea.
A special thanks was given to one member of the team, Jennifer Forster, who has been in the role for 43 years.
There are 17 patrols working across Medway near to schools or road junctions, helping pedestrians safely cross the road in the mornings and afternoons during the school term.
The service was officially created by the School Crossing Patrol Act in 1953.
The first official patrol started work in 1954 and while the uniform and sign have changed to meet modern standards – and patrols can now stop traffic to cross any pedestrian, adult or child – the role is essentially the same today as it was 70 years ago.
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