Competition acclaims Britain’s best SCP

The competition to find the ‘Golden Jubilee Patrol’, run by LARSOA in association with Hyundai, reached its climax recently in London.

Nominations for the country’s best School Crossing Patrol (SCP) were invited from RSOs, schools and members of the public - via a national women’s magazine. The prize for the winning Patrol was a new Hyundai car, with additional prizes for schools and RSOs.

The winner was unveiled by Jade – former star of ‘Big Brother’ - at a special luncheon at the Savoy Hotel. Jade (right in main pic above) was accompanied by Steve Whitehouse (left in pic below),chair of LARSOA, and Colin Pettener, (right in pic below) road safety manager for Shropshire, and LARSOA's advisor for SCP matters.

The winning SCP is Mrs Irene Reid (Left in main pic above) who patrols at Longbridge CE Primary School in Longbridge, near Preston, Lancashire. Irene has been a 'Lollipop Lady' for 35 years and has never taken a day off. According to her nomination, she is ‘funny, kind, compassionate, caring and much, much more’.

The competition was part of celebrations to mark 50 years of the SCP service, which was launched officially in the UK in 1953. Prior to 1953, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham employed ‘Traffic Wardens’ to help children on their way to and from school. Following this lead, the official School Crossing Patrol Act was passed, allowing SCPs to operate across the country.

"In the present climate - with increased traffic congestion and parents' concerns about road safety on the journey to school - LARSOA is pleased to celebrate the excellent work that School Crossing Patrols throughout the country have been doing over the last 50 years," said Steve Whitehouse. "We are delighted that Hyundai is undertaking this initiative and are confident that the competition will help to give Patrollers the recognition they deserve."

For further information about the competition and other 50th anniversary celebrations please contact Steve Whitehouse at Sefton Council on 0151 934 4231.