I've been a lollipop man at the school for eight years next month. I became a lollipop man after I retired.
I was a CNC machine operator in Albion Automotive before that, they made axels. They used to make trucks years ago too, you would see a lot of Albion trucks on the roads. I always worked in that line of work, in various places, in and around Glasgow.
I more or less took early retirement when I was 64. I wasn’t bored, but I’ve always had the kind of work ethic that’s it’s better to be doing something rather than sitting in the house doing nothing.
I applied to Cordia and was a lollipop man with them for a year and a half before I came to work at the school, after I saw the job advertised.
I work an hour and a quarter in the morning and come back for four hours every afternoon. My lollipop man partner John does the whole morning. We’re here to keep the kids safe crossing the road and keep an eye on the traffic throughout the school day.
I give the school kids a hard time when they are crossing the road - they’ll tell you that themselves - if they’re on their phones or wearing headphones and not paying attention. They don’t take it well, and they don’t really listen to me either, but that means I just have to continually say it to them.
I like that being a lollipop man gets me out and keeps me active and I like meeting people. I don’t mind coming out on wet or cold mornings. That’s just part of the job, and it’s fine as long as you’re wrapped up well. I use the same waterproofs that they use for golf, that’s what you need in this job.
John and I have our room inside the school to be in when we're not out on the crossing. We listen to the radio and get our clothes dried if they are wet. The radios in our room have all been left by the schools previous lollipop men, they’ve just passed bits and pieces on.
I have two lollipop sticks. I was gifted one by one of the parents who had a spare one, I’m not sure why she had a spare lollipop stick, but it’s found a useful home here.
I enjoy my job, I really do.
People always ask me when I’ll give it up but I don’t have a definitive date in mind.
As long as my health keeps up and the school are happy, I’ll be here.
If my health changed and would impinge in anyway on the safety of the kids, then there’s no way I would still be doing this job, but for now I’d say I’m okay.
I’m not ready for my box yet. I hope.
For more Glasgow Lives,local news and all that's going on in your city, head to the Glasgow Live homepage - or you can check us out on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
