Lollipop lady Angela has her rivals licked

LOLLIPOP lady Angela Smith has tasted sweet success for the second time this year.

The 59-year-old, who has been a familiar sight at Blurton's Sutherland Primary School for 31 years, has been named West Midlands Lollipop Person of the Year.

Mrs Smith, who lives on the Longton Hall Farm estate, has spent three decades helping youngsters cross the road.

The school crossing warden, who also works as a senior lunchtime supervisor and kitchen assistant, was the runner-up of Stoke-on-Trent's School Crossing Warden of the Year competition, held earlier this year, and celebrated her 30th anniversary in the business last December.

Yesterday, she was crowned the regional winner of the Kwik Fit Insurance Lollipop Person of the Year 2009 contest at a special assembly at the Beaconsfield Drive school.

Mrs Smith, who started working at the school when she was 28 years old, told The Sentinel she now considers herself to be 'part of the furniture'.

She said: "I enjoy every day. It's lovely to see the children's smiling faces.

"I can still remember the day I started. It was December 4, 1978. It was only supposed to be a temporary job, but it has been temporary for 31 years now.

"The children I used to cross are adults now and have gone on to have their own children, many of whom I help cross the road now.

"I feel very lucky because I enjoy my job very much and I don't think there are many people who do enjoy their jobs these days."

Mrs Smith, who has two grown-up children – Christopher, aged 39, and 37-year-old Melanie, was a pupil at Sutherland Primary School herself and was among the first intake when it opened in the mid-1950s.

She also gives the children talks on road safety and even lets them try on her lollipop person uniform.

The pupils interviewed their favourite lollipop lady about her career and created news reports and wrote biographies and poems to enter as part of the contest.

Paige Taaffe, aged nine, said: "She's a very nice lady. She's kind and she helps us cross the road safely."

Aaron Stanway, aged seven, said: "She's a great lollipop lady. I think she's the best in Stoke-on-Trent."

As well as a trophy, Mrs Smith was awarded a £500 holiday voucher and the school was presented with a £100 book token.

She will now go into the final with a chance to be named the overall Kwik Fit Lollipop Person of the Year.

Head teacher Garry Boote, said: "Angela is an integral part of the school.

"The children, staff and parents love her and she thoroughly deserves this award after having given so much to the school and local community.

"She is extraordinarily dependable and never lets anyone down. She is not going to be allowed to retire, obviously."

Councillor Ian Mitchell, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "It is excellent news that Ms Smith has been recognised as the West Midlands' best lollipop person. It just goes to show the calibre of staff we have here in Stoke-on-Trent.

"Being a lollipop person is a very important job and every day people like Ms Smith give their time to keep our children safe and has become a huge part of the school's family."