Peacehaven: Tributes to school’s longest serving lollipop man

Basil Turner was the lollipop man at Telscombe Cliffs school for 13 years from 2003 to 2016.

He died at the age of 86 on April 12 this year after suffering with a heart condition.

His granddaughter Elisa Harkness has told how much he loved his job, chatting to the parents and ensuring children could get to and from school safely.

“Grandad would come rain or shine. He would be there for both the morning school run and in the afternoon," Elisa told The Argus.

“He absolutely loved talking to all the parents and they loved talking to him. He made them smile and laugh.”

Basil Harkness died earlier this month (Image: Elisa Harkness)

Basil, known to many as Baz, began as a lollipop man when Elisa was in Year 5 at Telscombe Cliffs.

He also saw his great granddaughter Lois through her time at the school.

Basil moved down to Peacehaven from Croydon in 1993.

Before joining his role as the lollipop man, he took pride in his job as a cleaner in various buildings, churches and offices.

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Elisa said he always brightened people’s days.

She said: “People loved to see what different baseball cap he would be wearing and were grateful for his advice on how best they should clean their windows.

“It is with the heaviest heart that we say goodbye to Basil.”

Basil had to give up his role as a lollipop man in 2016 due to struggles with his heart.

“Grandad suffered with his heart for decades but he was fortunate to see all of his grandchildren grow up and have our own families,” Elisa told The Argus.

Elisa wrote a tribute post on Facebook which has garnered more than 150 comments, including from ex-Telscombe Cliffs pupils and parents sharing their memories of Basil.

Writing on Facebook, Charlotte Bassett from Peacehaven said: “Basil was such a kind, chatty and caring chap, who bought smiles to everyone’s faces, come rain or shine.”

Lisa Knight, from Brighton, said: “Basil was such a lovely man and a huge part of my boys’ journeys at Telscombe. May he rest in peace.”