Family members of a lollipop lady who died while on duty in Salford have spoken of their pride at being awarded the Elizabeth Emblem in her honour.
Thirty-five-year-old mother-of-two Stephanie Davies was working outside a primary school in Salford when she was hit by a bus which mounted the pavement in September 2006.
Her sisters Janette Hall and Diane Taylor were invited to a reception in Downing Street on Wednesday evening and were joined by Mary Weaving and Kristina Penny from the family of Jonathan White, who suffered a fatal fall putting up Christmas lights in Blackpool in 1986.
The Emblem is awarded by the King to the next of kin of public servants who died in the line of duty.
It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which honours members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.
Mrs Davies’ older sister, Ms Hall, said: “Her heaven is being surrounded by children.
“She loved children, she adored her son and daughter, Adam and Anna. She absolutely loved her job.”
Ms Hall said her sister had been learning Urdu and British Sign Language before she died and dreamed of opening her own play group for children.
Ms Taylor, Mrs Davies’ younger sister, described her as kind-hearted and funny, and said it was “amazing” to receive the emblem.
“Being a lollipop lady is not just a job,” she said, “they’re protecting people. So it’s giving recognition to that.”
“You don’t think of ‘lollipopping’ as a front-line job… But it’s a life-saving job,” her sister added.
She Mrs Davies would probably feel “a bit shy” about the honour but would also be “really proud.”
Report supplied by PA Media
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