Lollipop man says goodbye for the last time
Popular Rodney Bracey made redundant after council cuts
HE has greeted parents with a friendly smile and helped children safely cross the road to school for the past six years.
But on Friday, John Rankin Junior School’s popular lollipop man Rodney Bracey said his last goodbyes after being made redundant owing to West Berkshire Council’s public service cuts.
The district council is cutting its funding to eight school crossing patrols as part of its plan to save £17.5m next year and, with no alternative funding currently in place, the 70-year-old has lost his job.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News on his last day, Mr Bracey said: “This job gives me a reason to get up in the morning and it will be sad saying my last goodbyes to everyone this afternoon.
“Most of the children don’t even realise I’m going.”
Mr Bracey, who lives in Crookham Common, previously worked as a head groundsman at a number of West Berkshire schools, but was forced into early retirement after suffering a serious motorcycle crash after which he had to learn how to walk again.
Since learning of Rodney’s impending redundancy, parent Yvonne Soulby, whose two children, Jess and Aiden, attend the school, had been spearheading a campaign to save him.
Ms Soulby had previously said: “Rodney is invaluable. A true gentleman and a vital part of this community.”
She even tried to get the school of governors to agree to have Mr Bracey registered as self-employed – but they decided against it.
A statement from West Berkshire Council said: “This is not a statutory service and parents are responsible, by law, to get their children to school safely, regardless of whether there is a crossing patroller in place.
“Many other local authorities have removed their crossing patrol services completely.
“However, we recognise how much communities value this service, and we have developed a scheme to work with partners to deliver school-crossing patrols.
John Rankin Junior School was unavailable for a comment before this paper went to press.
