Generation game for Rochdale’s newest school crossing patrol

It’s a family affair for Rochdale Council’s newest school crossing patrol officer, who’s become the fifth member and the third generation of his family to don the yellow jacket and carry a famous ‘lollipop’ sign.

Barry Jones’ family has helped thousands of children and young people cross busy roads, with his grandma, mum, sister and brother-in-law all doing the important job at various points through the years.

And it was his grandma in particular, who inspired Barry, from Heywood, to take up his new post on Bury Old Road and Heys Lane near St Margaret’s Primary School.

Although Barry’s grandma, Norah Goldfinch, died some years ago, the memory of her special job has always stayed with him.

He said: “My nanna worked as a school crossing patrol in Manchester from 1961 to the mid-1990s, working mainly at Chorlton Park Junior School and I used to love watching her in the 1980s as a young child with my mum.

"We lived near to her crossing point and I remember her coat hanging in her house. I would carry her stick to the crossing while wearing her hat. I loved to see how she interacted with the kids and parents and seeing the smiles on their faces. I still have her appointment letter and her new starter book, which I really cherish.”

Collectively, Barry’s family has clocked up nearly four decades of helping school children cross busy roads.

Barry previously worked as a warehouse operative and a hotel receptionist, but after an injury affected his ability to work full time, he decided that continuing his family’s proud road safety legacy would be the perfect path.

He said: “This job is a massive serotonin boost for me. You see kids who start off a little bit shy, not wanting to chat, and a few weeks in, they’re giving you a great big hello.

"If they’re in a bad mood, I always try to cheer them up and wish them a great day. It’s so important because you’re one of the first people they’ll see and I want to help them to start the day feeling really positive and happy.

“It’s such an important job. You’re that first piece of road safety that children see. My aim is to ensure there are no accidents on that road while I’m there.

"When children learn road safety, they grow up respecting it and passing that onto their children too. And recently the laws changed, so we can now cross anyone who is at the crossing, whatever their age.”

Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We’re really proud of our school crossing patrols and the work they do and it’s wonderful to hear that Barry is continuing his long standing family tradition.

"Almost four decades of helping children cross the road is something his family can be really proud of and I know that our school pupils will benefit from all the experience and special memories that he brings to the role.”