Names for county’s fleet of gritters

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Consultation has concluded

Spreading smiles - and salt - across Oxfordshire!


Last winter, 30 brand-new gritters joined Oxfordshire’s fleet, ready to hit the roads whenever temperatures drop below freezing. These vehicles play a vital role in keeping our county safe - salting over 1,960km of roads each session, including A and B roads and key routes across Oxfordshire.

 


In October and November 2025 we invited Oxfordshire residents to help name them, spreading a few smiles along with the salt. 

 


We were looking for creative, locally inspired names that celebrate Oxfordshire’s rich history, culture, and character. 


 

A shortlist was compiled from the 1,480 suggestions received, with the gritter drivers themselves choosing the winners.


 

Listeners to the BBC Radio Oxford Breakfast Show took part as well, coming up with three of the names.


 

Pupils from the schools closest to the council’s depots where the gritters and salt barns are based – Woodcote Primary, Deddington CE Primary and Drayton Community Primary – also chose three names each. The children will get the chance to meet their gritters later this winter.


 

Two vehicles were named in tribute to gritter drivers and supervisors who died recently, while Blizzard of Ozz was a nod to Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away earlier this year. While not local, the cover of their debut album was photographed on the Mapledurham Estate in Oxfordshire.


 

The new gritter names are:

 

  • Bossy
  • Monster Rich
  • Snow-bi Wan Kenobi
  • Robin the Great
  • Duck, Duck, Grit
  • Draytonator!
  • Did You Just In-Salt Me?
  • Great Gritain
  • Hansel and Gritel
  • Gritasaurus
  • Ready, Spready, Go
  • Elvis Spreadley
  • Inspector Norse
  • Agatha Gritstie
  • Snowy Beauchamp
  • Gritty Gritty Bang Bang
  • Sir Winston Chur-chill
  • Shotover Chill
  • Snowdo Baggins
  • Radiospread
  • Professor Stephen Thawking
  • Claudia Sprinkleman
  • Blenheim Pal-ice
  • Sir Roger Ban-ice-ster
  • Grittenham Clumps
  • Grittmeister 5000
  • Alfred the Grit
  • Spready Mercury
  • John Thaw
  • Blizzard of Ozz.

 

You’ll be able to follow their journeys via our online gritter tracker

 


Read the story on the Oxfordshire County Council website 

Spreading smiles - and salt - across Oxfordshire!


Last winter, 30 brand-new gritters joined Oxfordshire’s fleet, ready to hit the roads whenever temperatures drop below freezing. These vehicles play a vital role in keeping our county safe - salting over 1,960km of roads each session, including A and B roads and key routes across Oxfordshire.

 


In October and November 2025 we invited Oxfordshire residents to help name them, spreading a few smiles along with the salt. 

 


We were looking for creative, locally inspired names that celebrate Oxfordshire’s rich history, culture, and character. 


 

A shortlist was compiled from the 1,480 suggestions received, with the gritter drivers themselves choosing the winners.


 

Listeners to the BBC Radio Oxford Breakfast Show took part as well, coming up with three of the names.


 

Pupils from the schools closest to the council’s depots where the gritters and salt barns are based – Woodcote Primary, Deddington CE Primary and Drayton Community Primary – also chose three names each. The children will get the chance to meet their gritters later this winter.


 

Two vehicles were named in tribute to gritter drivers and supervisors who died recently, while Blizzard of Ozz was a nod to Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away earlier this year. While not local, the cover of their debut album was photographed on the Mapledurham Estate in Oxfordshire.


 

The new gritter names are:

 

  • Bossy
  • Monster Rich
  • Snow-bi Wan Kenobi
  • Robin the Great
  • Duck, Duck, Grit
  • Draytonator!
  • Did You Just In-Salt Me?
  • Great Gritain
  • Hansel and Gritel
  • Gritasaurus
  • Ready, Spready, Go
  • Elvis Spreadley
  • Inspector Norse
  • Agatha Gritstie
  • Snowy Beauchamp
  • Gritty Gritty Bang Bang
  • Sir Winston Chur-chill
  • Shotover Chill
  • Snowdo Baggins
  • Radiospread
  • Professor Stephen Thawking
  • Claudia Sprinkleman
  • Blenheim Pal-ice
  • Sir Roger Ban-ice-ster
  • Grittenham Clumps
  • Grittmeister 5000
  • Alfred the Grit
  • Spready Mercury
  • John Thaw
  • Blizzard of Ozz.

 

You’ll be able to follow their journeys via our online gritter tracker

 


Read the story on the Oxfordshire County Council website