A lollipop lady has won royal approval for more than three decades spent helping schoolchildren stay safe.

June Rixson, of Shirley, was included in the latest Queen's birthday honours - 35 years after she first picked up her Stop sign and donned a hi-vis jacket at the busy Wickham Road crossing she serves.

The 80-year-old started a three-month trial period at the crossing, by the Shirley Inn pub, in January 1978 - and is still going strong now.

She has been rewarded with a British Empire Medal for her service to the Croydon community.
The mother-of-three said: "I feel very honoured that the people of Shirley have nominated me for this award.

"The children who I saw across the road when I first started are now bringing their children across the road, so it has been interesting to see them grow up and get married and move on.

"I have enjoyed it very much. It has been a very interesting journey and I have met lots of nice people."

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June with husband Lawrie

Mrs Rixson, who moved to Shirley with husband Lawrie 50 years ago, has helped generations of pupils from nearby St John's Church of England Primary, Shirley High and Edenham High schools.
But she has no desire to quit yet.

She said: "When I first started there weren't any traffic lights there - they've been there now maybe ten or 15 years ago. The problem now is persuading people to wait until the lights have changed.

"I shall do it as long as I feel able. I expect a time will come when I have to say, 'that's it', but at the moment I'm OK."

Martina Martin, headteacher at St. John's, said: "Mrs Rickson is a vital and much-loved member of the Shirley community and has been keeping our children safe on such a busy road for over 35 years - we even have some parents of children at the school that remember her as children.

"Through extreme weather, Mrs Rickson has always been at Wickham Road with a friendly face and a smile. It is a well-deserved honour and St. John's Primary School are happy that the community's appreciation has been shown to her in this way."

Cuts threat

The crossing patrol June Rixson has provided twice a day for more than 35 years is at risk of being axed by Croydon Council.

Any patrol where there is a zebra crossing in place could face the chop to save £60,000, the council confirmed.

The cuts - a 42 per cent reduction in the service's budget - mean ten people could face redundancy.

Mrs Rixson declined to comment on the cuts, which the council is still consulting on.

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Parents and choolchildren in Selhurst protesting cuts to lollipop patrols in January