Fond farewell for a lollipop lady

A huge show of respect was shown for Jean Witt, the long-standing lollipop lady at Merley First School.

As her funeral cortege passed the school, many pupils, teachers, parents and members of the public lined the road to say farewell.

Jean started as a lollipop lady in the mid-Seventies in Corfe Mullen at Rushcombe First School, then Lockyers Middle School, before moving to Merley First School around 30 years ago.

Although she was originally only standing in for two weeks, she ended up crossing pupils safely over the road for 47 years, only retiring in 2022 at 83 years of age, having received a number of certificates and acknowledgements for her service. Thousands of children came to know Jean over the years, and some of those children are now adults bringing their own children to Merley School, to make the same safe crossing that they had done.

Every year, Jean would donate a real Christmas tree to the school that was proudly displayed inside and, as a way to remember her commitment as a lollipop lady, a cherry tree is being planted in the grounds of the school, near to where she stood for many years.