A LOLLIPOP lady is celebrating 25 years of keeping school children and pedestrians safe.

Jane Hooper has helped two generations of Midhurst Primary School pupils across the road throughout her career.

Originally from Petworth, Jane moved to Midhurst in 1982 and began working as a school crossing patrol worker in 1997.

  • READ MORE: Two new music festivals announced (who's performing and how to get tickets)

Jane, who received a letter of thanks from the Mayor of Chichester, said she the best thing about her job is “seeing the little ones on their first day at school and watching them grow and develop”.

“I’m very proud to have been part of the community for so long and am now crossing a second generation of children,” she said.

“Not much has changed in the 25 years but safety and awareness are even more relevant now with the volume of traffic on today’s roads.”

Jane has two granddaughters and a step-grandson who all cross with her on the way to and from school.

Midhurst Primary School headteacher Sally Clarke said many of the parents remember Jane from their own school days.

“Congratulations to Jane - 25 years of crossing children from Midhurst Primary is an incredible achievement,” she said.

“We would all like to pass on our heartfelt thanks to Jane for her amazing commitment and service in keeping our school children safe over so many years.

"Please don't retire yet.”

Alongside her lollipop lady duties, Jane also works at a care home.

Her line manager and assistant area school crossing patrol coordinator Sue Madden said during the first Covid-19 lockdown when children were still attending school, Jane insisted on continuing with her patrol, even though she was in a vulnerable group.

“Jane obviously loves her job,” she said. “School crossing patrols sometimes face fast-moving traffic, poor weather conditions, occasionally irate drivers, but are there for the children’s and other pedestrians’ safety and are so much part of the community - the children love to see her every school day.

“We currently have vacancies all over West Sussex, including one in Midhurst, so if people are interested, they can visit the county council’s website, search ‘school crossing patrols’ and find out how to apply.”

Joy Dennis, West Sussex County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I would also like to thank Jane for her dedicated service and commitment to the community.

“We have 61 school crossing patrols across West Sussex, seeing children and parents safely across roads in all weathers during term time. They have a vital role in our communities, and I thank them all.”