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Revision as of 02:24, 12 August 2007 by Maelgwnbot (talk | contribs) (Bot: Updating template fields)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)- For the Shameless television character see Sheila Gallagher (Shameless)
| Sheila Kathleen Gallagher | |
|---|---|
 Sheila Gallagher | |
| Born | 20 October 1924 Holborn, England  |
| Occupation | Lollipop Lady |
Sheila Gallagher MBE (born 20 October 1924) is a well-known London character, highly visible in her reflective vest as a "lollipop lady" monitoring the crossing on Queen Victoria Street. In addition to allowing the younger pupils at the nearby City of London School to cross the busy street safely, Gallagher has received accolades from both Queen Elizabeth II and the Mayor of London.
Biography
Sheila Kathleen Gallagher was born on 20 October 1924 in Holborn, England. A "true cockney", she graduated as a shorthand typist book-keeper and began working as a secretary in Merchant Bank, Fenchurch Street in the City of London. In 1940-41 during The Blitz at age 16, she worked at Liverpool Street Station delivering mail to the armed forces and survived three bombings there.
After working with other lollipop ladies, she became the City of London's last remaining lollipop lady in 1990 and has held that title ever since.
In January 2002, Gallagher, 77, was one of 2,000 volunteers assembled to test the Millennium Bridge to see whether they could cause the bridge to move. Consulted for her expertise in ushering pedestrians safely from one side to the other, she said she felt as safe as one of her charges from the City of London School that overlooks the now famous "Blade of Light". With her approval that the bridge was rock solid reported to the public, subsequent approval by two independent consultants led to the opening of the bridge.
Gallagher reported:
It didn't move a quiver I was on it when it first opened and it felt like standing up in a rowing boat on a lake. This time it was solid as a rock.
In 2003, Prince Charles advised her to contact English Heritage to help fund the London Museum of International Immigration and Diversity. In response, this United Kingdom government body "offered an emergency grant of £30,000 and said they would support the project in search of public and private funding."
In early 2004, London Mayor Ken Livingstone thanked Gallagher "for making an outstanding contribution to life in London". On 9 March 2005 Queen Elizabeth II awarded her an MBE "for services to education", an important event that was reported both in London and in Glasgow, Scotland.
Gallagher is proud of having seen many students work their way up through school and on to university, monitoring their progress on a daily basis as they cross Queen Victoria Street. She is also a friendly presence for the many tourists crossing over the Millennium footbridge and up Ludgate Hill to St Paul's Cathedral. She is a regular speaker on subjects relating to pre-war London.
References
- ^ City Lights. (March 12, 2004) Sheila Gallagher: Outstanding Londoner. Autumn 2004, Issue 5, Page 2.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick. (31 January 2002) Evening Standard. Millennium Bridge to Test for its Notorious Wobble.
- See also Millennium Bridge
- City Lights. (September 3, 2005) Heartfelt congratulations to Sheila Gallagher, CLS’ Lollipop Lady of the last 15 years, who, on Wednesday 9th March 2005, was honoured by the Queen at Buckingham Palace with the prestigious MBE for her services to education. Spring 2005, Issue 6, Page 5.
- Times (December 31, 2004) New Year's honours. Features Section; Page 63. (writing - MBE, "Sheila Kathleen Gallagher, school crossing warden, services to education in London."
- The Herald (Glasgow) (December 31, 2004) New Year Honours: THE FULL LIST. Section: News; Page 12