'I come from a long line of lollipop men and women - this is why I love it'

A lollipop man in Rochdale has become the fifth member of his family to take on the job.

Barry Jones is one of the third generation of his family members to help children cross the busy roads in the borough.

His relatives have clocked up almost four decades working as lollipop men and women. His grandma, mum, sister and brother-in-law had all previously taken on the job.

Barry, from Heywood, said he was inspired particularly by his late gran Norah Goldfinch to take up his new post on Bury Old Road and Heys Lane near St Margaret’s Primary School. He said he loved 'seeing the smiles' she brought to children's faces.

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Barry said: "My nanna worked as a school crossing patrol in Manchester from 1961 to the mid-1990s, working mainly at Chorlton Park Junior School and I used to love watching her in the 1980s as a young child with my mum. We lived near to her crossing point and I remember her coat hanging in her house.

"I would carry her stick to the crossing while wearing her hat. I loved to see how she interacted with the kids and parents and seeing the smiles on their faces.

"I still have her appointment letter and her new starter book, which I really cherish.” Barry previously worked as a warehouse operative and a hotel receptionist.

But he decided to continue his family's legacy on the roads after suffering an injury. "This job is a massive serotonin boost for me", Barry said.

"You see kids who start off a little bit shy, not wanting to chat, and a few weeks in, they’re giving you a great big hello. If they’re in a bad mood, I always try to cheer them up and wish them a great day.

"It’s so important because you’re one of the first people they’ll see and I want to help them to start the day feeling really positive and happy. It’s such an important job.

"You’re that first piece of road safety that children see. My aim is to ensure there are no accidents on that road while I’m there.

"When children learn road safety, they grow up respecting it and passing that onto their children too. And recently the laws changed, so we can now cross anyone who is at the crossing, whatever their age."

Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "We’re really proud of our school crossing patrols and the work they do and it’s wonderful to hear that Barry is continuing his long standing family tradition.

"Almost four decades of helping children cross the road is something his family can be really proud of and I know that our school pupils will benefit from all the experience and special memories that he brings to the role."

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