Almost 20 years after retiring from Tayside Regional Council at the age of 65, Dundee’s and possibly Scotland’s oldest lollipop man has finally retired again.
David Fleming (84) has helped two generations of children to walk to school safely and, after 19 years and one month’s service, he has decided to hang up his lollipop for good.
Describing his work as ”a pleasure”, he has finally decided to ”take it easy” and spend more time with his family.
”I used to work in the building trade and then the boatyard,” Mr Fleming told The Courier. ”I worked the last years as a Tayside Region council car park supervisor until I retired in 1993.
”I wanted to do one more year to make it the 20 years but I had to let go after I took a dizzy turn.
”I’ve had diabetes for 60 years and it’s never bothered me. I take two tablets every day but I went to the doctor and he said I should have been taking one tablet instead of two.”
Mr Fleming, who lives in the St Mary’s area of the city, said: ”It was a really rewarding job and I loved it. I got to talk to people and the main thing was that it was something to get up in the morning for.
”The people who I started helping when they were kids now take their own children to the school. I think I will miss the everyday routine of going down and talking to the kids.”
Mr Fleming has been based at the junction of Macalpine Road and St Mary’s Road for 15 years and has helped children walking to St Andrew’s Primary since it opened in 2008.
”I got to know all the parents and their children,” he said. ”I got to know them and then they left when they reached primary seven, which was always a bit sad.
”But the new ones started and it was a pleasure to see them with their shining faces and I saw them every single day.”
He added: ”I took a dizzy turn and I was worried what would happen if I did that in the middle of the road. So that’s me finished after 19 years and one month this August when the kids came back was the start of my 20th year.
”I’m just going to take it easy now. I’ve got gardening to do and I’ve got my shed, so I will keep busy and I am looking forward to having a rest as well.
”I’ve got a big family who I will be able to spend more time with. I have five children, 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.”
Council education convener Stewart Hunter paid tribute to his hard work.
He said: ”It is fantastic that Mr Fleming has done such a great service. It just shows the great community spirit that all our crossing patrollers have and to do it until the age of 84 is just amazing.
”If anybody would like to become a crossing patroller, please contact the education department on 01382 433071.”