Hartlebury school lollipop man is village hero
A popular lollipop man has earned hero status in a Worcestershire village after 11 years of ensuring children can cross a busy road to school safely.
Retired plumber Stan Buller was nominated for the annual Hartlebury Hero Award by Hartlebury CE Primary School for his dedication and friendliness.
The 78-year-old ushers children and parents across the busy Rectory Lane come rain or shine, salutes the motorists and always has a smile.
Sophie Bartlett, head of school, said: “Stan thoroughly deserves this award and we are all thrilled for him.
“He is friendly and approachable and has built up a wonderful rapport with our children and their families.
“Stan is a genuinely lovely man, very popular with all our families and staff and also supports us by attending assemblies and events in school and at St James’ Church.”
Proud of his award, presented by the parish council, Stan thoroughly enjoys his job, despite a few close encounters.
He said: “One driver stopped just three feet from me, but they are mainly fantastic and very polite, in fact they often salute me.
“I enjoy serving the school and the community. I’m the first person to greet the children as they arrive and for some, who might be a little wary of going to school, a friendly smile can be reassuring.”
Stan, who lives in Bewdley, added: “It’s great to see the little ones grow and when they are older they sometimes come back to see how I am, which is fantastic.”
