A retired Nidderdale lollipop lady has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to child road safety.  

Mary Fisher, 88, worked as a lollipop lady outside Summerbridge Community Primary School for 47 years. She began in 1975 when she was persuaded by a police man to take to the position.

Ms Fisher carried out 18,000 morning and afternoon patrols, before retiring in 2022. During her service she got to know all the children’s names and saw many return years later with children of their own. 

Mary Fisher alongside the Lord lieutenant after the ceremonial service.

Ms Fisher was awarded the British Empire Medal by Lord lieutenant Jo Ropner in a ceremony at 9.30am on April 4 at Camp Hill, Kirklington, attended by her family and five other British Empire Medal nominees.

She said:

“It is a real honour to receive it. It is something not everybody gets. It was a really nice morning I didn’t know what to expect but we all enjoyed it and were very proud. I loved every minute of being a lollipop lady and was very sorry when I had to give it up.”

Ms Fisher’s granddaughter Megan Dunn added:

“It was a really lovely day and was nice to get recognition of her hard work. We are all very proud.”

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A retired lollipop lady who helped generations of children cross the road in Nidderdale has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to child road safety.  

Mary Fisher is one of 83 recipients in Yorkshire and the Humber named in the King’s New Year’s Honours List, which will be published in full later. 

Mary, 88, was persuaded by a local policeman to start work as a lollipop lady outside Summerbridge Community Primary School in 1975. 

She stayed in post for 47 years, carrying out 18,000 morning and afternoon patrols, before finally retiring last December. 

The school paid tribute on Mary’s final day.

During that time, she got to know all the children’s names and saw many of them return years later with children of their own. 

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: 

“Everyone from Yorkshire receiving honour today represents the best in British communities. 

“I send my warmest congratulations to this year’s recipients, all of whom are incredibly deserving for what they have achieved. 

“If you know someone in your community who has done something extraordinary, nominate them for an honour so together we can recognise what they have achieved.” 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 

“The New Year’s Honours list recognises the exceptional achievements of people across the country and those who have shown the highest commitment to selflessness and compassion.  

“To all honourees, you are the pride of this country and an inspiration to us all.” 

Read more:

• Emotional farewell to remarkable Nidderdale lollipop woman Mary Fisher
• Mary, 87, retires after 47 years and 18,000 shifts as a lollipop woman in Summerbridge
• Is Mary the Harrogate district’s longest-serving lollipop woman?

A Harrogate police officer was awarded a British Empire Medal today in recognition of his services to policing and charity.

Sergeant Paul Cording was honoured in the king’s birthday honours list in June.

Today, Sgt Cording received his medal from the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner at her Camp Hill Estate near Bedale.

Sgt Cording joined North Yorkshire Police in 2001 and moved to the roads policing department in 2010.

He has since been called to over 100 fatal road traffic collisions and become well-known for tweeting about life as a roads policing sergeant in North Yorkshire.  He has also featured on Channel 5’s Traffic Cops.

Sgt Cording was nominated for the award by the chief constable’s office.

In a social media post, Sgt Cording said:

“What an amazing and humbling experience to be in a room with such incredible people.

“My thanks to North Yorkshire Lieutenancy and Jo Ropner for presenting my award and thank you to everyone that has and continues to support me.”

In another post on X, Sgt Cording described his anticipation for the awards ceremony as:

“Proud moment in the Cording household if not a little bit overwhelmed by it all.”

Besides his police work, Sgt Cording frequently supports charities.

He visits local schools to educate young people and children on road traffic safety, and this year ran 325km in a week to honour the 325 people killed or seriously injured on North Yorkshire’s roads in 2021.

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