Torbay Council

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Lollipops Prove that Age is No Barrier

At the ages of 16 and almost 81, student Ben Bryant and Charlie Launder have their jobs licked -- they are both school lollipops in Torbay!
Ben and Charlie, who celebrates his 81st birthday in early April, are believed to be among the youngest and oldest school crossing patrols in the country.
Ben, a former student at Torquay's St Cuthbert Mayne School, is currently on a motor mechanics course South Devon College in Paignton.
His part-time studies have enabled him to become the council road safety team's latest school crossing patrol. He is thought to be the youngest patrol in Devon, and as the minimum age limit is 16 he is also one of the youngest in the country.
Ben provides cover for three sites in Torquay: Teignmouth Road, Hartop Road -- both for St Marychurch Primary School -- and Westhill Road for Homelands Primary School.  He has worked on all three sites, covering for the regular patrols when they are unavailable through sickness or holidays.  
Said Ben: "I enjoy my job as a school crossing patrol officer because I like to help parents and children cross the road safely.
"I always get a good feeling inside that parents and children are safe because of my job. I applied for it because my local school was missing a school crossing patrol for a few months. I had some spare time so I applied.
"I feel that more teenagers should do this job because it can fit in well around college or another job. I always feel that teenagers sometimes get bad press for just hanging around and causing trouble. I am very proud to be the youngest school crossing patrol in Devon and maybe in the country.
"I remember when I was in primary school and the majority of school crossing patrol officers were old. I feel it can be a job for young people as well as old."
Torbay Council Cabinet Member Cllr Chris Lewis agreed. He said: "Ben is a shining example as a young Torbay person making a valuable contribution to the community. His education and upbringing in the Bay have given him a solid sense of community spirit and we are delighted to have him in the ranks of our school lollipops.
They all do a brilliant job in the community, working whatever the weather to see pupils and parents safely across the busy roads around our schools.
"We currently have more than two dozen school crossing patrols who have been working for us for up to 18 years. Ben and Charlie have certainly proved that age is absolutely no barrier when it comes to picking up their 'lollipop sticks' and fulfilling such a valuable front line role in the community."
Charlie Launder is the school crossing patrol at Eden Park Primary School in Brixham. Charlie, who has been doing the job for four years, said: “I am pleased to see that this rewarding job is attracting young people as well as the more mature residents of Torbay. I am very proud to be part of the same team as Ben, helping to make the roads safer for children and older people alike.”



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