A lollipop lady is celebrating an eventful half a century helping youngsters cross the road safely.

Mary Nye, from Horsham, says she still thoroughly enjoys the role 50 years on since joining West Sussex County Council’s school crossing team.

The 89-year-old has seen some unusual things during her long career including a cat which regularly joined her during crossing duties.

“It used to wait and cross with me – not just one way but both ways,” she said.

There was also the mysterious case of the stolen crossing pole.

“Someone stole it and threw it in Warnham Mill Pond,” she said.

“The police retrieved it, took it to my house and asked me to identify it. They saw the funny side of the situation and we rolled about laughing.”

Mary, who sees Holbrook Primary School children and their families safely across North Heath Lane, says the role keeps her motivated.

“It’s the schoolchildren themselves and doing something useful that I enjoy the most,” she said.

“It helps motivate me to get up in the morning.”

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Mary spent the first part of her service crossing children from Greenway Junior School and Trafalgar Community Infant School before moving to her current spot and still sees people that she helped when they were children and are now parents.

She was first drawn to the role because it allowed her to spend school holidays with her own children.

The Argus: Mary says the role keeps her motivatedMary says the role keeps her motivated (Image: Darren Cool)

Mary’s line manager school crossing patrol co-ordinator Sonia Barber said: “Mary is a real asset to our services. She manages a complex crossing and preforms her duty impeccably.

“It gives me great pleasure to visit Mary and the warm gratitude she receives from pupils and parents leaves you with a boost of happiness that lasts all day.”

Councillor Joy Dennis, West Sussex County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, described Mary’s service as “truly wonderful”.  

“I would like to thank her, along with the 96 other school crossing patrols across West Sussex, for seeing children and parents safely across roads in all weathers during term time,” she said.

Holbrook Primary School headteacher Ian Holmes congratulated Mary on the “amazing achievement”.

“She is out on this busy road every morning and afternoon without fail, come rain, sleet, storms, snow or whatever the weather brings,” he said.

“Mary performs an important part of our safeguarding remit in ensuring that countless children and parents are able to cross the road safely. 

“She is very conscientious and always cheerful in her job, and we are privileged to have had her at Holbrook Primary school since we opened in 1992.”