Lostock Hall's 'dancing doorman' crowned Lancashire's oldest lollipop man

Dad-of-four Hugh Rushe has been helping children to safely cross Brownedge Road at the end of Avondale Road in Lostock Hall for the past 17 years.

And now Hugh says he is over-the-moon to be given the exciting news of being a record-holder by his Lancashire County Council boss.

The granddad-of-10, who has been married to his wife Mavis for 57 years, said: "Nobody has overtaken me. My boss came to visit me after the schools went back and said he had some news.

"I said, 'You're not going to fire me, are you?'

"After he told me about being the oldest lollipop man in Lancashire, he said, 'You've no signs of retiring. There's nothing I can do to stop you.'"

Hugh credits his milestone achievement to his healthy lifestyle.

"I'm fit and I love my job. I like keeping active," he said.

"I don't smoke or drink, and I look after my body and health. My family are quite amazed I'm still doing this job but they say keep going.

"I used to do a lot of disco dancing at local clubs. I was christened 'the dancing doorman' at St Gerard's Club. There was no stopping me."

Hugh, who has six great-grandchildren, says he is also dedicated to the job because he loves helping people and being a friendly face in the community.

He added: "I protect children and make sure they get across the road safely. It's a dangerous crossing and there are some mad drivers out there but every morning and afternoon from Monday to Friday without fail I'm there.

"The children come running up to me, shouting and waving. Even mums, and bus and taxi drivers wave at me.

"And even when it's minus six or seven degrees outside, I'm still here doing my job. It doesn't bother me."

Despite sometimes working in gloomy or bleak weather conditions, Hugh says he isn't looking to retire anytime soon, even though other lollipop workers often eye up his crossing.

"One or two people are after my job. Someone asked me when I'm retiring as his wife wants to do this crossing but it doesn't matter how old I am, I'm doing it," he said.

"I said to him, 'Come see me next year sometime.'"

It's clear Hugh isn't one to step aside easily, having previously worked in security at arms manufacturing company Royal Ordnance, as well as patrolling cemeteries for Royal British Legion in Preston, and being a door man at St Gerard's Club in Lostock Hall.

He added: "Being a lollipop man has been my favourite job so far and I'm sticking with it. I'm holding on to it."

Are you a Lancashire lollipop worker and older than Hugh? If so, we'd love to hear from you - contact the Lancashire Post on [email protected] to tell us more.