A POPULAR Hatherleigh woman has hung up her lollipop after 25 years of helping youngsters cross the road on the way to school.
Mary Sanders, 74, retired last week, and her familiar face will no longer be seen on crossing patrol duty outside Hatherleigh Primary School.
Over the years, Mary has seen a number of generations of the same family pass through the school gates.
Mary said: ?I am sad to have to give it up. I will miss seeing the children and their parents.?
Mary, herself a former pupil of the school, said she had a long association with the primary school as her husband and their children had also attended the school.
Mary said she intended to keep in contact and would visit the primary school to help when she could, listening to children reading or helping with their craft work.
Headteacher Linda Mitchell said: ?She is very popular with the children and not only because she gave them lollipops at Christmas, but because she seemed genuinely interested in them and how they were getting on.
?She was an absolute treasure and she will be very much missed by the children.?
Mrs Mitchell said Mary would often come and talk to her about traffic and other hazards around Hatherleigh. ?She took the job very seriously,? she said.
In a special celebration at the school last month, parents, pupils and friends from her stint of more than quarter of a century as lollipop lady said a fond farewell to Mary.
Mary was presented with a painting by local artist Eileen Gould of the school she has served for so many years, as well as a bouquet of flowers and a book of self-portraits made by the children. Pupils also sang a special song they had come up with as a tribute to their popular lollipop lady.
Last July, Mary was recognised by Devon County Council for her 25 years of service.