82 year old Plumstead Lollipop lady Joyce Cooper hangs up her stick after 45 years

BY ALICE FULLER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A much-loved lollipop lady received a surprise send-off after retiring from almost half a century in the job.

Joyce Cooper, 82, spent 45 years helping generations of schoolchildren cross the road to Conway Primary School in Plumstead, Greenwich.

Students, shopkeepers, family, friends and neighbours lined the street to bid a fond farewell to Joyce on her last day at work.

They presented her with gifts and a bouquet of flowers in celebration of her service.

Joyce said: “It was a very emotional day. I didn’t know what I was expecting but it was so lovely.

“I could hear the music from down the road and as I turned the corner, I could see balloons and so many people.

Kids that I’d helped years ago came down with their own families.”

Joyce started work at the school in 1974 and got the job almost by accident after her predecessor fell ill.

She said the previous lollipop person, Frank, wasn’t there one day when she was taking her then eight-year-old son to school.

Joyce said: “A policeman told me ‘Frank is ill and has had to retire. Would you like the job?’

“I thought, ‘I’ve never done anything like this before, but why not?’”

Some of Joyce’s happiest memories are from when her late husband, Frank, was a lollipop man on the same the road at Bannockburn Primary School.

She said: “We both loved our jobs so much. We were known as the husband and wife who ran the street.”

Frank collapsed on duty one day and almost died three times in the ambulance to the hospital, but was back at work in no time.

He died five years ago aged 86.

Joyce’s favourite part of the job was befriending the children she saw each day.

She said: “I loved getting to know them. Some are married now and have children of their own.”

Joyce said she would miss the children the most and it was a tough decision to retire.

She said: “I’m coming up to 83 and I’m not looking forward to the winter. I really didn’t want to give up the job, but it seemed like the right time.

“I truly did make friends with everybody.”

She said she was not sure what’s next, but she will pop back every now and again to say hello.

Joyce said: “I’m not a person to sit about so I’m not sure what my plan is now. There are lots of things I can do at home, especially as I’m not so able to get out in the winter.”

Joyce’s retirement may see her travelling, inspired by a surprise trip to Las Vegas organised by her son.

She said: “I was a bit lost when my husband died, and my eldest son came home one day and said, ‘you’ve got a passport mum’.

“He told me we were going away and it was a surprise. He took me to Las Vegas, of all places.

“It was out of this world. My mouth was open the whole time.

“We went to a show and took a helicopter over the Grand Canyon. I videoed the whole thing on my iPad and I often get it out and sit at home and watch it back.”

Greenwich councillor Danny Thorpe was there to wish Joyce well on her final day.

He said: “Joyce is an inspiration to us all. There are not many people who can say they have served their local community for 45 years and made such a valuable contribution to keeping children safe.

“As this year’s Royal Borough of Greenwich Civic Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winner, she is no stranger to the limelight, but I am delighted to have another opportunity to recognise her work.

“Her retirement is a great loss for Plumstead, but we wish her all the best for the future.”