A Nidderdale lollipop woman is set to retire after 47 years of helping children cross the road.
Mary Fisher, 87, is North Yorkshire’s longest-serving lollipop woman.
She has supervised generations of children crossing the busy Pateley Bridge to Harrogate road outside Summerbridge Community Primary School since 1975 — the year the Vietnam war ended, Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party and Leeds United were beaten in the final of the European Cup.
Now, after 18,000 morning and afternoon patrols involving thousands of children, she has decided to retire. Her last day is due to be December 16.
Nick Coates, executive headteacher of Darley and Summerbridge Community Primary School Federation, said:
“Mary will still be a regular visitor to school but in a guest capacity rather than a working role and is going spend her retirement taking it easy, gardening, baking with the odd bit of knitting thrown in.
“We wish her all the best and of course, it goes without saying, all our love.”
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Mary came to North Yorkshire in 1954 with her husband Jim, and soon became firmly embedded within the local community.
In 1956 the couple moved to Summerbridge, where Mary worked at New York Mill and Jim worked in the building trade.
Over the next decade or so Mary and Jim raised their four children, all of whom attended the school. It was at this point that Mary’s relationship with the school really began.
Bringing the children to school everyday, it was soon noticed by the local ‘bobby’ that Mary would make a great lollipop lady and despite initial reluctance, she eventually agreed.
Two years ago, when she celebrated her milestone of 45 years, she said:
“One of the best parts of the job is that everyone recognises you – everyone always waves at me.
“I love being outside and active as well. I have to be out and about rather than sat inside. Not a day goes by where I think I don’t want to get up today and do it.”
Now, after 47 years and five headteachers, she has finally decided to call it a day.
