An Article for SENine Magazine

Eltham Lollypop Man Retires After Thirteen Years

John Wood, the Lollypop man of Roper Road and Orangery Lane, is finally laying his lollypop down. For 13 years John has done the Lollypop for Eltham CofE School, and it seems has been popular with everybody, from a “ten month old baby that waves” to him, to the parents and the children he has crossed the road with. He even used to bring real lollypops in for the children. “When I first started I’d bump into people everywhere! I can’t go down Eltham High street without seeing someone! My wife kept asking how everyone knew me” laughs John, “A family even spotted me in the Costa Brava”.

Born in Brockley, John has lived all over South East London; Catford, Blackheath and even Ashford in Kent during the war, but he now resides in Eltham, just a ten minute walk away from his Lollypop road. It was in 1997 that John saw an advertisement in Greenwich for a Lollypop Man, he applied and had the medical but didn’t hear anything, “I’m not the kind to chase them up if they aren’t getting back to me!” Therefore it wasn’t until a year later when he saw another advertisement in Eltham that he got the job. “I’m there every weekday, half 8 to half 9 and quarter past 3 to quarter past 4, I’ve seen whole families grow up, sometimes they come back a few years later and they are right up here!” he chuckles and gestures way above his own head. At 78, John does not seem to be slowing down, still driving himself and his wife around and enjoying the odd holiday, as well as seeing their grandchildren when they can.

It definitely seems that John has earned his retirement, working at the Post Office and then doing the Lollypop whilst simultaneously working at Ruxley Manor on the door at weekends, “I’m John at the Gate” he says. He obviously enjoys the work so when asked why John has decided to retire it is clear that his want to see more of his family is the main motivation; “I want to see more of the grandkids, and maybe have a few more cheaper holidays!” Indeed there are pictures of children and grandchildren dotted around the living room, and it is clear that John’s large family are what is most important to him and his wife. “It’s time to give up” she says, and after 60 years of working who could argue with her.

Though John’s grandchildren will now happily get to see more of him, I don’t doubt that the families of Eltham CofE will miss him walking them across the street every day. Though it is assured that he is retiring, with 6 children and 6 grandchildren, whether he will get a rest or not is not so certain.