Mum who became lollipop lady for 25 years after son nearly hit by car sadly dies
A caring mum[1] who became a lollipop lady after her son was nearly mowed down by a driver[2] has sadly died.
Pearl Gallimore, from Tean, Stroke-on-Trent, touched the hearts of many when she took up her role to help pupils safely cross the street in 1976. She sadly passed away at the age of 82 on March 16. The selfless parent worked as a lollipop lady for 25 years after her son David, who was seven at the time, was nearly involved in a crash with a car[3]. Following the near-death experience, she campaigned for the major road, A50[4], to be constructed.
She was placed on the junction between High Street and New Road, at the very place that disaster nearly struck her son, she stayed there for her entire post. She was one of many protesters who called for the A50 to be built in a bid to divert traffic. Her son Andrew, 52, said: “She took the job after my brother nearly got run down on the days before the dual carriageway was built. He was on the way to school. She started in 1976 and did 25 years. She loved her job but disliked the bad weather[5]. The wind blew down the High Street like a typhoon.
I’m a travel writer and this £70 suitcase set is an excellent choice for sunseekers on a budget[6]
Pearl with her kids David and Andrew on a trip to Blackpool (
stokesentinel)
“She was down there in all weathers. When they threw snowballs, she batted them back with the lollipop. She took me to primary school a couple of times but then she said I had to do it on my own as she had got a job. When I walked to school at Great Wood I saw her everyday, and got shouted at every day! She met a lot of kids along the way. They always seem to like my mum.” Andrew added: “She missed the company when she retired. And the High Street, there used to be lots of shops in the 70s.” In her later life, Pearl enjoyed travelling and spending time with her grandchildren. She passed away from a combination of health[7] issues.
She leaves behind her husband Peter, 86, two children David and Andrew, and three grandchildren, Emily, Katie and Charlie, 34, 15, and 12 respectively, reports StokeOnTrentLive[8]. Pearl grew up in Cheadle to parents Violet and Sidney Leese. She lived in the Tollgate House and served as a Wren with the Women’s Royal Navy Service in Cornwall and Scotland[9].
After meeting Peter in the White Hart pub in Tean, she had to ask permission from the Navy to marry him. Her bosses refused so in 1964 she left the service to tie the knot anyway. Pearl moved to Tean and the pair went on to have two children. Andrew said: “They have seen tough times when I was little. They’ve both seen things through, side by side.
“They always had smiles on their faces. As a grandparent she was very demanding. She’d say she hasn’t seen her kids and ‘where are my kids?’. She loved spending time with them. She liked listening to organ music, especially Reginald Dixon.” A funeral service to celebrate Pearl’s life will be held at Christ Church in Tean on April 17, 12.30pm.
References
- ^ mum (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ driver (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ car (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ A50 (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ weather (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ I’m a travel writer and this £70 suitcase set is an excellent choice for sunseekers on a budget (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ health (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ reports StokeOnTrentLive (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Scotland (www.mirror.co.uk)