After 18 years helping children and adults to safely cross the road, Helston School Crossing Patrol Frank Timmins has decided its time to hang up his lollipop.

Frank has operated his crossing point outside Helston Church in Church Hill since 1995 and has helped generations of children and adults to cross the road safely on their way to and from Parc Eglos Primary and Helston School.

“I have loved this job and I’m really going to miss the children, but I think now is the time for me to let someone else enjoy it,” said Frank.

“One of the pleasures of this job has been seeing parents I once helped to cross the road as children now crossing with their own children.

“Most of the drivers have been quite good coming through here, but it would be safer if some others took a bit more care and slowed down.”

When not on duty at the crossing, Frank has been a familiar figure to budding artists from his work as an Art Tutor for Adult Education, a role he is also retiring from to spend more time together with his wife.

Jean-Paul Mallard, School Crossing Patrol Service Co-ordinator for CORMAC west area, said: “Frank has been one of our stalwarts, who has demonstrated all the qualities needed to do this important job, responsibility, reliability, and a sense of humour! We are proud of him and will miss him a great deal.”

Frank’s retirement will be marked by a presentation from children and staff at Parc Eglos and his colleagues in the School Crossing Patrol Service.

CORMAC currently has School Crossing Patrol vacancies in Hayle, Helston and St Austell. For more information please visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/jobs or contact Jean-Paul Mallard on 01872 327238 or jpmallard@cormacltd.co.uk