Lollipop lady waves goodbye after seven years (From The Oxford Times)

Lollipop lady waves goodbye after seven years

11:00am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News

A LOLLIPOP lady received a final hug of thanks from pupils at a Witney primary school as she left her post.

Sam Stafford has served as Tower Hill Primary School’s lollipop lady for more than seven years.

She is pictured helping, from left, Stephanie, 11, Kirsten, nine, and Eloise Adams, six, and their big sister Rachel Walker, 17, across Burford Road for the last time.

She said: “Being a lollipop lady is the best thing you can do.

“You get to see kids smiling every morning and if you are feeling low they come up and give you a cuddle, which gives you a boost for the rest of the day. I will miss them terribly.”

Mrs Stafford has been offered a full time assistant manager position elsewhere. Her last day was Friday. Tower Hill pupil Callum Hall, nine, inset, said: “It is really sad she is leaving. We always play a gave when we get out of the estate we all run up to her and whoever touches the lollipop first wins.”

Kate Walsh, the school’s business manager, said: “We will all miss her smiling face first thing in a morning and at 3pm.”