'We hope to meet William and Kate' says Ripon lollipop man praised by city's parents
A Ripon lollipop man labelled a “hero” by parents is swapping his hi vis jacket for a date with Royalty at Buckingham Palace.
When he is not volunteering for crossing patrol duties at the junction of Kirkby Road, Blossomgate, Church Lane and Trinity Lane in the city, Pete Wilkinson owns and runs The Easy Learning Shop in the Duck Hill Shopping Quarter.
Already a local celebrity after he was awarded a St Wilfrid’s Star at Ripon Cathedral in 2024 for services to the community, Pete has now received a Royal call-up.
Next week will see the popular Ripon figure and his wife have been invited to London for a Buckingham Palace Garden party in recognition of his contribution to life in the city.
But it all came as a bit of a surprise.
"I couldn’t believe it when I received a call, completely out of the blue, from the Lord Lieutenant’s office saying that I was being invited to attend on May 6 with my wife Estelle,” Pete told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog,
“Estelle, who owns and runs Lindsay Fashions of Ripon in the Duck Hill Shopping Quarter, has chosen a lovely new outfit for the day and I bought a new suit on Saturday.
“It’s very exciting. We just hope that William and Kate, The Prince and Princess of Wales, are there and that we get a chance to meet with them!”
Pete, who is also a member of Ripon BID, has been seeing school children and parents safely across one of the busiest junctions in Ripon for nine years.
Parents and pupils alike appreciate his efforts.
Mum Linsey, whose children Ophelia, aged 8, and six-year-old Boheme are pupils at Holy Trinity Primary School said: “Everybody knows Pete – he’s such a lovely man who does a fantastic job in keeping us all safe.
“No matter what weather we face, he is totally reliable and there morning and evening to make sure we can cross these busy roads.
"He is a hero and I hope he has a wonderful time at the Royal Garden Party.”