Two Leicestershire crossing wardens have been praised for their work towards road safety for schools in the first ever Churchill National Lollipopper Awards.
Carol Stokes from Barwell Infant School and Herbie Lloyd from Battling Brook Primary School in Hinckley were among five winners from across the UK to be awarded for their hard work and commitment as part of National Lollipopper Day.
Launched by Churchill Insurance, the awards welcomed nominations from parents and school children across the country in the four categories of Bravest, Kindest, Most Entertaining and Over and Above, with an overall winner being crowned Lollipopper of the year.
Carole Stokes, who has worked in the job for two and a half years, was awarded the prestigious top prize. She said: “I feel very privileged to have been nominated by the wonderful children and families of Barwell and it’s so touching to have won!”
ITV’s This Morning presenter, Alison Hammond, was joined by pupils of the Barwell Infant School to honour Carol in a surprise presentation. Alison said: “It was so hard to choose the overall Lollipopper of the Year, as there were so many fantastic entries, but Carole stood out as a real star and pillar of the local community.
“The children and I were very excited to be able to reward her and it’s so fantastic to see the love and support she receives from the school and parents.”
Head Teacher, Mrs Sarah Carey, shared her own appreciation for Carole. She said: “Whatever the weather, her love and care for the children and the whole Barwell community shines through.”
The Most Entertaining category was won by Herbie Lloyd, a lollipopper at Battling Brook Primary for over 10 years. He said: “I love being part of the community and being able to bring a little entertainment to the children and parents each day on their school run, whilst keeping them safe.
“It is wonderful to have been recognised for this award, it makes me feel very appreciated and valued.”
Head Teacher, Mr Stewart Marsden, said: “It is so exciting for Herbie to be recognised for his hard work and commitment. He is a key part of the school day for many children and he’s always there to welcome them in the mornings and see them safely home at the end of a busy day of learning.”
The awards are part of the wider Churchill Lollipopper Campaign, which aims to improve safety on school crossings across the UK by deploying more of the iconic safety wardens. The campaign follows research by Road Safety Analysis in 2016, which found that over half of accidental pedestrian casualties occur during the school run.
By Jennifer Morris
