Top of the lollipops! The Vale’s crossing patrol winners are announced

The unsung heroes and heroines who guide the Vale’s youngsters safely across our roads twice a day, every day, were given the recognition they deserve at the Vale Road Safety Awards held earlier this month.

For more than 60 years the ‘Lollipop’ Ladies or Men have been a familiar and friendly sight on our streets and are an essential part of the journey to and from school. Rob Thomas, Director of Development Services, who was presiding over the annual event said "Visiting schools and nurseries in the Vale to talk about their duties and ensuring all those who cross with them is safe, come rain or shine, the School Crossing Patrols deliver a vital road safety service directly to the community and are held in high esteem by all children, parents and the schools they serve."

The annual awards presentation, organised by the Vale Council’s Road Safety Team, recognises and rewards the contribution provided by those working on schools crossing patrols throughout the county. The co-ordinators and volunteers of the Kerbcraft Child Pedestrian Training Scheme were also thanked during this year’s presentation for another successful year in helping prepare younger road users to be safe pedestrians.

The top award for School’s Crossing Patrol of the Year, was given to Katie Coates who patrols outside Albert Primary School in Penarth and has worked in the Vale for over 18 years.

Other award-winning school’s crossing patrol winners at the 2014 awards included Colin Dowd who won the award for the Penarth, Sully and Dinas Powys area, Julie Ellis for Llantwit Major & the Western Rural Vale and Vanessa Carlson and Scott Jackson for Barry.

All the winners and guests were then treated to a buffet and fun road safety quiz. The Vale Council’s Road Safety Officer, John Rogers, thanked everyone for attending the presentation, he said: "Everyone here has played their part in contributing to road safety over the past year in the Vale – to those present, and to those who are not here, we thank you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to working with you again in 2015".