Meet ‘Elvis Spreadsley’ and ‘Grit of Thrones’

Meet ‘Elvis Spreadsley’ and ‘Grit of Thrones’, the gritting lorries set to keep Hampshire’s road users safe this winter.

Two gritting lorries used on Milestone Infrastructure’s Hampshire Highways contract have recently been named following a competition for local secondary school pupils.

Earlier this year, Milestone encouraged pupils to get creative and enter the competition to name the gritting lorries at a STEM careers fair. The two winning names have now been unveiled: ‘Elvis Spreadsley’, by Daniel Owen (year 10) from Brighton Hill Community School, and ‘Grit of Thrones’, by Paige Rhodes (year 9) from The Costello School.

Both schools have received a visit from the newly named gritting lorries, giving students an opportunity to see the vehicles up close and a chance to learn more about the highways service in Hampshire.

Speaking on why competitions like this are important in engaging young people, Adam Watts, Communications & Social Value Manager on the contract, said: “We recognise the importance of inspiring the next generation of talent in Hampshire, and competitions such as this one allow us to do just that. This kind of engagement is part of our delivery of the Hampshire Highways Employment & Skills plan, which includes goals to reach vulnerable young people. The relationships that we have now established with both schools involved will create further opportunities to inspire students to take up a career in the highways industry.”

Many of the Hampshire Highways contract gritter fleet have previously been given names from local schools, including ‘Spready the Eagle’, ‘Snowbi-wan Kenobi’, ‘Spread Sheeran’ and ‘Gritty Gritty Bang Bang’. ‘Elvis Spreadsley’ and ‘Grit of Thrones’ join the team of 44 gritters keeping Hampshire drivers safe this winter.

Last winter, the fleet spread approximately 17,700 tonnes of salt, treating more than 140,660 miles of road, equal to driving seven times around the Earth, or more than halfway to the Moon.

Milestone are currently recruiting for winter maintenance drivers across their contracts this winter. To find out more information, please visit: https://www.mgsworkwithus.com/company/milestone-infrastructure/