Croydon Council refuses to let 83-year-old lollipop man keep uniform after 20 years of service

"As pupils from four different schools made their way across the busy junction of Sylvan Hill and Auckland Road near Crystal Palace this week, Robert's vibrant high-vis was notably absent but the lifelong Croydon resident was still there waving and smiling. With the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) present on Friday morning (September 5), many families stopped to say Hello Robert and We miss you as they passed."

"Labour mayoral candidate Councillor Rowenna Davis has written to Mayor Jason Perry, requesting that Robert and the five other guards be allowed to keep their uniforms. She told the LDRS: Robert is absolutely treasured by local children, parents and teachers. He's kept children safe for over 20 years, and this Mayor fired him to save peanuts off his broken budget. The fact he is demanding Robert's uniform back rubs salt in the wound."

Robert Boyce, 83, helped children cross the road in Croydon for more than 20 years and was made redundant this summer as part of council cost-cutting. The redundancy removed the simple daily joy that motivated him, yet he still went out to greet pupils as school resumed. The council has asked for uniforms to be returned, and Robert has asked that the request be withdrawn so he can keep his high-visibility uniform for sentimental reasons. Local families continue to show affection. A Labour mayoral candidate has written to the mayor seeking permission for Robert and five other guards to retain their uniforms. The council said it values their work and retains equipment when staff leave.

Read at www.standard.co.uk