Lollipop man quits following high five ban
A lollipop man who was once known as the happiest in Scotland has quit after the fun police moved in…
Lollipop man, Nkosana Mdikane, danced and sang at his crossing and gave the pupils high fives.
But officials at West Dunbartonshire Council put a stop to the fun because of health and safety.
Officials ordered Nkosana to remain static with one hand on the stick and the other stretched outwards.
The council said they were only following national guidelines but the local children and parents at Aitkenbar Primary were dismayed. And Nkosana, 75, said he couldn’t go on working after the ban took all the enjoyment out of his job.
Nkosana said ”It wasn’t the same any more,” he added. “I was sad and embarrassed that I wasn’t allowed to interact with the kids. I resigned with a bleeding heart. I told them I had an issue with my health, but it was an excuse. I am lonely in retirement and can’t even go back to the street where I worked because the sight of the crossing makes me so upset.
He left his post last June, four months after the high-five ban was imposed. Widespread local anger, and a Facebook petition with 14,000 signatures, failed to persuade the council to back down.
A council spokeswoman said Nkosana had retired. She added: “He was a brilliant ambassador and extremely popular with pupils, staff and parents.”
Do you think the council were right to ban him from having fun in the job?
