Council makes Sheila, 88, redundant after nearly 50 years to save some lolly

GRANDMOTHER Sheila Richards has seen countless children safely across the road in nearly half a century and never took a sick day — but now council bosses have axed her job.

- By Poppy Huggett

Sheila, 88, said her goodbyes to families after finishing her last lollipop patrol and said she would have liked to carry on doing what she loves.

Mrs Richards spent 48 years of her life helping children from the John Stainer School in Brockley, South London, to stay safe on the road.

But Lewisham Council carried out a review of school patrols amid ongoing budget cuts and said traffic lights or a zebra crossing might go there instead.

Sheila, whose own children went to the school, said: "There's nothing at all wrong with me. I've got my brain and I'm lucky really.

"I've bills to pay. Where I live, I have to pay a service charge. I used to have a bacon sandwich every day. I shan't do that when I don't have a job.

"The roads are getting so busy now. They want to put lights on the crossings, but how long will that take?"