SCHOOL NEWS: Swanmead’s pride as Felicity chalks up 35 years as a lollipop lady

APRIL 1982 saw the start of the Falklands War, Chas & Dave and Bucks Fizz were top of the pops and Liverpool FC were on their way to winning the old First Division – plus Felicity Windsor started working for Swanmead School in Ilminster as a lollipop lady.

Thirty-five years on and Felicity was presented with a certificate of achievement and gifts by the school in recognition of her long and loyal service to the children of Ilminster at a special assembly at Swanmead held on Friday (May 12, 2017).

Students were left somewhat bewildered when headteacher Mark Walker told them that back in 1982 there were only four channels on the television and there was no internet, while the size of a mobile phone was very much different and very much larger than it is today.

But he added: “Although there have been a lot of changes over the last 35 years, one thing hasn’t changed – our very own lollipop lady Felicity Windsor.

“Felicity has served on the top road in Ilminster as a patrol lady through rain, snow and gales and has only ever missed a couple of days in 35 years because of illness and even when she has been feeling a bit poorly she has still come out.

“To serve 35 years as a lollipop lady has been an incredible feat and an incredible achievement.”

PHOTO – TOP: Long-serving lollipop lady Felicity Windsor with Swanmead School headteacher Mark Walker and some senior students.

Mr Walker checked with Somerset County Council to see if the authority had any suitable accolade to present to Felicity in honour of 35-year service.

“The answer was NO,” he said. “Thirty-five years as a lollipop lady in Somerset just doesn’t happen. Felicity is probably the longest serving lollipop lady in the history of Somerset schools and is also probably one of the longest serving in the entire country.

“Felicity doesn’t like any fuss, but we are very proud of her and that she is continuing her work of getting us across the road safely.”

Students gave a rousing reception to Felicity who had to quickly dash off at the end of the assembly to don her uniform once again and take up her position to get children across the road safely.

And a few other snippets of reflection of 1982….the top three Christmas gifts for children that year were BMX bikes, Rubik's Cubes and Cabbage Patch Dolls; the average price to fill up the car with petrol was just £22; the average house price was £45,000; and the top three box office movies were ET The Extra-Terrestrial, Tootsie and An Officer and a Gentleman.

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