Lollypop Ladies of London

There are three school crossing guards in Penge. They are the backbone of the community. It takes a special person to be a crossing guard. You have to be brave to step out and stop traffic, especially when there are some really selfish drivers who speed up to try to shave 30 seconds off their commute, risking the lives of children and their carers. You have to be a caring person who likes children. You have to be able to chat about the weather and the state of the roads to all kinds of people. Most importantly, you have to have the desire to cheerfully keep people safe for very little money. The children in Penge love our crossing guards because all three ladies smile and remember them and make them feel important. They notice when a child is sad and will pass on a kind word to cheer him up. They delight in hearing of a child's school success on the way home. I hope these ladies know how much they are appreciated in this area. One thing I have noticed, in a world where people often think only of themselves, the majority of people crossing the road give their heartfelt thanks to the crossing ladies. I can only hope it is the same throughout London.