Story Archive

The Lollipop Man Can

Colin Spencer, 83, has been a crossing guard (known in Britain as a “lollipop man”) at St George’s Primary School in Heaviley, Stockport, England, for 14 years. The highlight of his day was high-fiving the kids as they went by — until the council stepped in. “Please may we ask that children using the Bramhall Lane crossing patrol do not ‘high-five’ Colin when crossing the road. Thank you.” they told parents. “It’s not brain surgery, that’s what I told my manager,” Spencer said. “But she was telling me how I need to hold my stick and that I mustn’t high-five the kids because it’s too much of a disruption.” Outraged parents forced the Stockport Council to reverse their decision. “We want to apologize for the unnecessary concern caused by the issuing of an instruction that was clearly wrong,” a spokesman said. Spencer, who called the original decision “petty” and “bureaucracy gone mad,” noted “The children will be pleased” with the reversal. (MS/Manchester Evening News) ...Give that man a lollipop!