David Wilson, affectionately referred to as the Johnny Barnes of Ord Road, has been garnering lots of attention as the exuberant crossing guard at Paget Primary.

The 53-year-old is known for wearing a cowboy hat, carrying balloons and dancing children across the street — pretty much doing whatever it takes to make people smile.

From 8am he stands at his post waving to morning commuters and making sure students get safely off their buses and into the school building. He does the same thing after school when children are on their way home.

It’s a busy road and traffic often comes to a slow for people to wave and hear his popular greetings like “Have a good day”, and “Welcome to Bermuda”.

“I tell them every day is Bermuda Day,” he said. “I have groups of kids up there singing and dancing with me. Sometimes I sing to them Bermuda is Another World. I just love it.”

He said there is nothing more rewarding than making someone’s day and he is always pleased to get positive feedback from the public.

“People say they look for me every day when they pass by here,” Mr Wilson said. “One lady stops and I do the dance and she toots her horn and then drives off. She has two kids in the back and they wave to me.

“People tell me that every morning they have to make sure they stop and see my dance.

“I’ve also heard people call me the Johnny Barnes of Paget, the new kid on the block. I look forward to doing this everyday. I probably enjoy it more than the kids.”

A custodian for many years with primary schools around the Island, Mr Wilson was asked to help out ushering children across the street one day when the regular guard was out sick.

The role suited him well and he’s continued with it ever since.

He said he has always been a sociable person and tries to never leave home without a positive attitude.

“I have been like that since I was a teenager. From the time I was young, going to school and playing football I was outgoing and would make a few jokes,” he said.

“I’m just a jolly person and try to lift people up to make their day.

“My dad, Sammy Wilson, was like that when he ran the Pembroke Youth Centre. He has always been that way to help people and take people in to feed and shelter them so I guess I’m following in his footsteps.”

Mr Wilson, a drummer for the Warwick Gombeys, enjoys his crossing guard role so much he was sad to see the school year end.

“We had a graduation ceremony for the older children last week and I just said ‘Call 911! Someone is trying to steal my kids’,” he said.

“They were all crying and I had my balloons and was taking pictures with them, I was sad to lose all my babies and they cried because they really didn’t want to leave me. They really don’t want to go.”

More than just waving and greeting the public, Mr Wilson tries to pass on nuggets of advice to the children.

He tells them to obey their parents and do the right things. He also tries to be a father figure for some of the children without an active dad in their lives.

He said the role has brought greater purpose to his life. Bringing joy to people has boosted his self esteem and made him feel like he’s doing something great for this small patch of the world.

“There’s nothing the kids wouldn’t do for me and nothing I wouldn’t do for them,” he said. “I would give them the world if I could. They are all beautiful and well mannered, every one of them. They are my babies.”