“I just like seeing the children in the morning – their smiles, their laughter - sharing their joy,” says Baiba O’Rourke, who’s been a lollypop lady at Rockingham Road School, Corby, for more than 25 years. Baiba started school crossing patrols full-time in 1983. She’s seen many changes in that time – with the behaviour of the children and their parents and the volume of traffic. Over the years, Baiba has helped thousands of children safely across the road – she must be one of the most recognisable faces in Corby. Despite having to stand outside in all weathers, Baiba says it’s the children who make it worthwhile: “I feel alive!” thanks to the youngsters, she says with a laugh. Below, Baiba talks about her job as a lollypop lady.
Changes The children I saw when they first started school now have their own children coming to this school. It’s lovely to see them. Parents say to them: ‘She was my lollypop lady. She’s been here a long time. She’s part of Corby and Rockingham Road School.’
 | | Corby's Queen of the Lollypops |
Children nowadays don’t do a lot of walking. They come in cars. I have children whose parents drop them off at my crossing and as far as they walk is across the road and into the playground. And then they pick them up outside the school, parking on the path and showing no respect for me because I sometimes can’t see the cars coming along Rockingham Road because they’ve parked in the way. I take the children out for walks as well. A lot of the children moan ‘how much further is it? My legs are tired!’ In the old days we used to walk for miles. It was nothing to walk to school. I think the parents are just getting lazy. Some parents don’t think. I’m paid to see those children across. Anything can come up a road – an ambulance, a fire engine, a police car that’s in a hurry. If I don’t have control of them crossing, then I can’t get them off the road quick enough for them to go past me. Feelin’ good The traffic has got a lot heavier. You get a lot more lorries now, and cars with just one or two people in them. I’d had thought it would be a lot cheaper if three or four people got together and shared the car. Or they should park and walk, or use the public transport. I’m used to the weather. I love the weather. I like a lovely cold, frosty morning. It wakes you up and makes you feel good. It’s the children that make my days. I can get up in the morning and feel sad or down. I come up to school and all it needs is for one child to say ‘Good morning Mrs O’Rourke’ and that’s it. If I’m down they’ll say: ‘You’ve got your sad face on’ and I’ll say: ‘Oh, I’m not having a very good day. Give me a little cuddle round my leg,’ and I feel alive; I’m alright! Tale Trails Baiba was introduced to Tale Trails by Diane Gower. Find out about Diane’s work with children with challenging behaviour by clicking the link below.
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