It began one day when Joan Crossland stepped in to help school children safely cross the road when the lollipop lady didn’t show up - and now Joan, aged 72, is the longest-serving lollipop person in South Gloucestershire. Come rain or snow, the community hero been helping children safely cross Hanham Road to get to and from Beacon Rise Primary School in Kingswood for 34 years. And she has recently received a well-earned award for her commitment.