Lollipop man, 91, on final patrol after 28 years

A 91-year-old lollipop man from Greater Manchester is completing his final crossing after 28 years on the job.

Reg Bown, from Sale Moor, decided to become a lollipop man at the age of 60 when he took a post at Wellfield Infant School in Sale. Despite briefly retiring at 70, it wasn't long before he returned to the lollipop at Sale High School, where he has been working ever since for more than 17 years.

But the veteran lollipop man has decided to hang up his hi-vis for good, and will complete his final shift on the crossing later.

"I will miss the people," Reg told BBC Radio Manchester ahead of his last shift. "The people are the only thing that have kept me going to 91."

Reg has spent his whole life in Sale.

He said he remembers watching Sale Town Hall on fire from his bedroom window during World War Two.

Reg spent several years completing national service in the RAF before entering the printing industry.

Refusing to let retirement slow him down, Reg has spent his later years serving the local community and keeping children safe.

"It gives me something to do," said Reg. "I have talked to a lot of people and had quite a bit of fun.

"I'm up at 06:00 - and what would I do otherwise? Stay in bed all day and do nothing? My mind would go blank."

Reg, who is retiring now only due to a bad back - said he would miss the parents and children, whom he described as "fantastic".

He said he is often left waiting at the end of a shift for his wife and co-worker Anne, 85, who can always be found on the corner of the crossing talking to passers-by.

She is currently off-duty owing to the school holidays, but will be at the crossing as "back-up" on Thursday to support Reg through his last patrol.

"I will miss the whole lot of it," Reg added. "It's a smashing job."

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