Safety comes first for dedicated Audrey

A LOLLIPOP lady who patrols one of the busiest roads in Oldham has been nominated for a Pride In Oldham award.

Audrey Montague (59) has wielded the lollipop outside the gates of Blue Coat School for 17 years and won’t be stopping any time soon.

Audrey, who lives with her husband, Raphael, came from Jamaica in 1976 and has lived in Oldham ever since.

Along with the staff, Audrey has to help nearly 1,500 young people from Blue Coat cross Egerton Street, in addition to primary school children making their way home with their families and the young people using the MAHDLO centre.

Her crossing is one of the most difficult in Oldham, on a mini-roundabout in a built-up area close to the town centre.

Moreover, the traffic using Egerton Street has increased dramatically in recent years due to the construction of Metrolink leading to the the re-routing of traffic.

Audrey said: “I’m very pleased to be nominated. I do this because I love being around the children and talking to them.

“All of them are very nice.”

Head teacher Julie Hollis thanked Audrey, who “protects our children like her own”.

She said: “Mrs Montague is always there. She is our hero.

“Her priority is the students’ safety, day in, day out and she does not allow a minority of discourteous drivers to put her off.”