Hampshire's Favourite Lollipop Man

Havant's Bob Jackson is Hampshire's favourite lollipop person for 2010 after being voted the overall winner in the County Council's competition to find Hampshire's School Crossing Patrol of the Year.

Bob was awarded the title  at the School Crossing Patrol of the Year Awards Final, held at Winchester's Discovery Centre during Child Safety Week (21 - 27 June).

Bob, who lives in Bedhampton and patrols for Barncroft Junior School in Leigh Park, secured his place in the Final with a nomination and drawing from Katie Stewart, age 9.  Katie told judges:

"Bob is good because he tells you when to cross politely to you. He is kind and helps you to cross the road."

In presenting the awards, Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment, explained how the competition was launched in Hampshire Now magazine (the Council's magazine for residents) and online on Hampshire County Council's road safety website. Additionally school communities were made aware of the scheme via information distributed through schools with a school crossing patrol. He said,

"On behalf of the County Council I am delighted to bestow upon Bob the title of School Crossing Patrol 2010. Children's safety is a huge responsibility and we are very grateful that we have such a dedicated army of school crossing patrols, like Bob, making sure they can cross the road safely at the beginning and end of the school day. These people are often the unsung heroes of our community and this competition is one way of demonstrating the admiration we all have for them. All of today's finalists are obviously very much appreciated by the people in the community that they serve and certainly deserve the recognition they have received." 
 
Parents, children and schools were asked to nominate their favourite school crossing patrol, by giving their reason as to why their lollipop person is the best in Hampshire and giving their nominee the chance to win the title of Hampshire's School Crossing Patrol of the Year.

Along with an impressive glass trophy and certificate marking Bob Jackson's achievement, he was presented with a £500 gift voucher, provided by Hampshire based design agency, 'the Escape'. A road safety goody bag was given to the children of the families who submitted the 12 finalist's winning nominations.