Britain's longest-serving lollipop lady now crosses the grandchildren of the kids she helped when she landed the job and has no plans to retire.<br /><br />Irene Reid, 84, has helped kids safely cross the street outside Longridge Church of England Primary School in Preston, Lancs,. for 55 years.<br /><br />She first started the role in 1969.<br /><br />She's believed to be the UK's longest serving lollipop lady, but humble Irene insists she enjoys it because of the children and the weather.<br /><br />And after getting an MBE in 2012, the great-grandmother-of-10 has now been recognised with a certificate from the council.<br /><br />Irene said: "It makes me feel very old - I just don't think about doing it.<br /><br />"Obviously it's the children and I like being outdoors, I used to work in an office but I couldn't do that now. <br /><br />"The weather is bad but it's also nice sometimes. <br /><br />"I live in a small town and the people are just amazing.<br /><br />"Some of the children are now nannies and grandad themselves - which is just ridiculous."<br /><br />Irene started her career in 1969 and she wanted a job that fitted around school hours, so she could raise her four children.<br /><br />But she had to be persuaded to take the role, as she didn't want to wear the uniform at first.<br /><br />The great-grandmother-of-ten said: "I had four little children so we needed to get some more money because we were always broke. <br /><br />"A lovely lady was retiring and she kept trying to persuade me to do it, but I kept saying I wasn't wearing that uniform because I was only young. <br /><br />"In the end I said I would try but the idea was to do it until my children got to high school or something. <br /><br />"But that didn't work out - because I'm still there five years later."<br /><br />Irene was awarded a MBE for her services in 2012 and has recently been given an award from Lancashire County Council to recognise her 55 years of service. <br /><br />She said: "It was really nice when I got my MBE and I was really lucky because it was Queen Elizabeth who did it. <br /><br />"It was actually her diamond jubilee year and she didn't do anymore after.<br /><br />"Then a few weeks ago, I went to the Buckingham Palace garden party with my daughter and that was lovely. <br /><br />"I really enjoyed it, it was a blazing hot day and all the ladies had their nice dresses and posh hats. <br /><br />"It was like something from a magazine."
