The School Crossing Patrol (SCP) service celebrates its Platinum Jubilee in 2023 – and Road Safety GB has commissioned a special commemorative badge, logo and certificate to mark this impressive milestone.
The resources have been designed to support SCP Services to celebrate and mark the 70th anniversary of the service.
The first known patrol was Mary Hunt, a school caretaker appointed by Bath City Council to help pupils cross the road in September 1937.
Mary continued to work through the difficult conditions during the Second World War, and then when Kingsmead School was destroyed by bombs in 1942 and moved to new premises, Mary moved with them.
The idea grew in the late 1940s when two of the newly created road safety officers in the London Boroughs of Dagenham and Barking (Jock Brining and Dorothy Pummell) recognised a growing problem with the safety of child pedestrians given the increasing volume of traffic on roads.
At that time around 90% of children walked to school unaccompanied, and also played out on the streets. Children were advised to ask an adult to see them across busy roads, but Jock Brining had the idea of ‘official’ adults to help children on their way to school at points where traffic was at its worst.
Jock and Dorothy persuaded their councils to agree to the idea and went on to employ ‘active retired gentlemen’ as ‘traffic wardens’, who wore white coats and peaked hats – as worn by park keepers at the time.
The idea proved very popular and soon spread to other London boroughs, and as more wardens were appointed the Met Police took over responsibility for the new service. The SCP service was born when the Government recognised the value of having a service that crossed children at busy and difficult locations.
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!
James Gibson, executive director of Road Safety GB, said: “School crossing patrols play a vital road safety role and of course also encourage active travel on school journeys.
“Road Safety GB gives thanks to all patrols for the work that they do on a daily basis. The need for patrols will remain as long as children walk to school and cross busy roads – here’s to another 70 years of the service!”
Road Safety GB members can download SCP Platinum Jubilee artwork and media information from the members’ area of this website.
Road Safety GB holds the National School Crossing Patrol Guidelines and is supported in it’s work by a National Advisors Group.
If you are organising any local celebrations to mark 70 years of the SCP service, please share any details with Edward Seaman, website editor, via email.
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