Biggleswade lollipop lady Sandra retires after 26 years

Sandra Emery, 62, began her service on London Road, before being stationed at Drove Road for an impressive 24 years.

Sandra was known for being a friendly face on the school run, with a “loud voice and good laugh”, always greeting people with a smile and a wave come rain or shine.

Sandra, whose last day was October 23, said: “It was quite emotional, as everyone was bringing me cards, chocolates, and flowers, all sorts of things - my house looks like a florist’s!

“I’m a people person so I will really miss it. I will miss everyone, but I think it’s my time, really. The winters are getting harder, it’s not an easy job. The traffic can be quite busy and during the first week back in September I had three near misses!”

Sandra signed up to be a lollipop lady when her youngest daughter started school, as it suited the family’s routine, with Sandra describing the 26 years as having “gone by quick”.

She is adamant that the clouds always choose to rain when it’s school time, but despite the nippy British weather, always preferred to wear shorts on the job until she was forced into skirts and tights during the winter.

Reflecting on her memories, Sandra laughed: “People said that they knew when the weather changed because I’d change my shorts!

“The children used to come running down the alleyways to tell me their news: ‘It’s my birthday’; ‘What we did in school’, or they’d be dressed up for World Book Day.

“People in their mobility scooters have also said they will miss me, because they used to time it, and cross when I did.”

Sandra is originally from Melton Mowbray, but her family moved south to Dunton when she was eight.

She met her husband, Steve, 65, when they both worked at Smart and Brown Machine Tools Ltd, and the pair were married in Dunton Church in 1980, celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary this year. Sandra has four children, Kathleen, Hannah, Barry and Verity, and is affectionately known to her grandchildren as ‘Nanna Sas’.

Sandra added: “I would like to say thank you to everyone who has thought of me and for all my cards and presents.

“Thank you also to the people of Drove Road - to Trudie for bringing me drinks - cold in the summer and hot in the winter - and to Mrs Wing for looking after my pole.”

Barry’s partner, Zoe Jeeves, said: “Sandra is really well thought of in the community and the children have always loved her cheery greetings in the mornings.

“Putting a post on Facebook, it was lovely to read all the kind well wishes and memories from over the years from people she has crossed over the road safely. I put these all in a book for her and she’s loved reading them all.

“She will be very much missed on her crossing, but we hope she has a long and happy retirement.”

Sandra is very grateful to Zoe, while she would also like to thank Lawnside Academy for making her a book, as well as Edward Peake Middle School, as one of their teachers put a very kind post on social media.