After half a century of helping children safely across the road for St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Ann Conway MBE, 82, is finally ready to relax and retire.
Ann is the Council’s longest serving employee. She started her service to the borough in 1971, before Solihull Council was founded (in 1974) in the days when crossing patrols were run by the police.
Friday 26 November is her last day of work. To mark the occasion, Ann was invited to the Civic Suite to have tea with the Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Ken Meeson. There were smiles all around as the Mayor presented her with a celebratory hamper.
No stranger to celebrations, Ann has even brushed shoulders with royalty during her time as a school crossing patrol warden. She received her MBE from Prince Charles in 2009 and met Prince William at the Queen’s Garden Party in 2018.
The occasion is bittersweet for Ann, as she said:
“The best thing about this job has been seeing children start at the school, grow up and then meeting their children too.
"All my children and grandchildren have been to the same school so it’s just like an extended family.
"If you like children and like being out in the open air it’s a wonderful job. I shall miss it but I live round the corner so I shall stay in touch.”
The Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Ken Meeson, said:
“Ann is truly outstanding, with a real passion for what she does. I can’t thank her enough for her dedicated service to generation upon generation of children in Solihull.
"She will be sorely missed. It goes to show what a legacy and impact one person can have by simply being kind and devoted to helping others.
"Living in the times we do, it’s always a pleasure to have an uplifting story like Ann’s to share; strong connections in our communities are something we should strive every day to protect and maintain.
Thank you Ann, I think I speak for everyone when I say we are proud to have you in Solihull.”