CHILDREN were saying farewell to the longest-serving lollipop lady in Kirklees this week.
June Welbourn, 63, of Marten Drive, Netherton is to hang up her high visibility jacket and `stop' sign on Friday after 30 years in the job.
For those three decades, she has shepherded youngsters safely across the busy Moor Lane and Netherton Moor Road both morning and afternoon.
June started the job when her two sons, Michael and Robert, attended Netherton Infant School.
Her husband Victor died when both boys were very young.
"Michael was at school and Robert was just starting. The job was offered and I ended up doing it," said June.
"Another man tried it for a week or two and said it was too cold."
When her sons, who are now in their 30s, left school, June decided to carry on.
"I needed to be here for my sons but I enjoyed it so much I just kept on."
She has always loved her role, even when the weather turned wild.
"You can't be afraid of going and getting wet. It's all right in the summer but in the winter you get everything thrown at you.
"When it's rainy and windy that's when you get really soaked, absolutely soaked."
Parents who she marshalled from class as children are now bringing their own little ones for her to safeguard from traffic.
The roads around Netherton have become much more busy over the years.
But June said the job had not changed that much, unlike her uniform.
Her first outfit looked like a white great-coat. "It was so long it was like a tent. I had to cut the bottom off."
She plans to keep busy in her retirement. She enjoys gardening and jigsaws and will spend more time with her 84-year-old mother, Mrs May Bone.
June was involved with Cubs and Beavers for many years and served as Akela with the Netherton pack.
She said she was not looking forward to her final day.
"It's terrible. I'm laughing now but I shan't be then."
