A CLYDEBANK pensioner celebrated her 80th birthday last week by crossing school children on Kilbowie Road as she has done for the past 36 years.

Helen Barr has helped ensure thousands of Drumry residents get to school safely, and in her time as the lollipop lady outside The Hub since the mid-1980s she has helped two generations of many families cross the busy road.

The gran is also well known in Clydebank for running a number of youth groups, discos and the “Hubble Bubble” holiday programme.

Although she no longer runs youth groups, she did so for nearly 40 years.

And she’s still finding new ways to work with children – most recently at St Eunan’s Primary, where her grandson took her to school as part of his class’s “People Who Help Us” topic.

Helen’s youngest daughter, Stephanie, 36, told the Post how she can’t remember a time when her mum wasn’t working with children and helping in the community.

Stephanie shared her mum’s big birthday on social media and her mum received well wishes from more than 80 people.

Helen, a Sunday school teacher and congregation member at Kilbowie St Andrew’s Parish Church, was born and raised in Partick before moving to Clydebank with her husband, Jim, after they married in 1968.

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As they raised their four daughters - Ingrid, Ciaran, Sonia and Stephanie - they moved from Livingstone Street to Briar Drive in Parkhall.

Helen left her job at Peter Pan Dressmakers to run youth clubs in the area and her daughter told how this has “been her calling”.

Stephanie said: “She loves the social aspect of seeing all the kids and their parents.

“I think people adore her as much as we do, she receives hundreds of cards and gifts at Christmas from all the children and she knows everyone so well.

“I don’t think my mum will ever give it up. She won’t stop until she is made to.

“Even though she is 80, she doesn’t look or act it as she is so full of life and is always the life and soul of the party”

Husband Jim, 77, is only too happy to let her continue as it keeps her fit and happy regardless of her age.

The family celebrated Helen’s birthday at the weekend with a Great British Bake Off-inspired party, with each of her four daughters baking her a cake - and the family judging them.

Helen would have loved a big party with as many people as she could, but was equally happy celebrating in the garden with her children and close family.