Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Norfolk County Council is preparing the gritters in readiness for winter. They have 55 lorries, and this year held a competition to name each one. Asking the public for names is always dodgy [BoatyMcBoatface] BBC Radio Norfolk, and the Eastern Daily Press helped. Over 600 entries, mostly from children and local schools. They have just published the list of the winning names. You can tell the majority of entrants were children! I am impressed by a four year old suggesting Control Salt Delete [I suspect parental influence there]
Many refer to famous people or films, some [in red] are folk with Norfolk connections, others relate to the Canaries [Norwich FC] Some I found a little confusing [Doris? Gracie?] In Norfolk dialect, great is pronounced grit. One in six have ice in the name somewhere. One in 3 include ice. One in 8 have salt.
My own Norfolk favourites are Edith Gravel [Miss Cavell's name often mispronounced, but her family insist the emphasis is on the first syllable, so this one works well] and On the ball, Gritty [the Canaries song is the world's oldest football chant] And I think it is lovely to have Kitt The Grit. Terry Kitt was Assistant Norfolk County Surveyor for many years, and responsible for winter maintenance. That was his nickname at work. He died last year. and this is a fine tribute.

A Fine Gritty - Elaine  Albert Icestein - Albert, 7  Alfie Hew-Grit - Anonymous   Attlebrrrr - Timothy  Banham Blizzard - Florence, 5  Big Mean Ice Machine - Zane, 5  Billie Ice-Lish - Hope, Year 5  Blizzard Of Oz - Mia, Year 3  Boud-Ice-A - Dennis, 8  Captain Grit - Kye, 7  Chris Thawham - Gail  Control Salt Delete - Melodie, 4   Dan Gritter - David   Doris - Jake, Year 5  Edith Gravel - Lisa, Matt  Elsa - Darcey, 4  Frostilicity - Felicity,     Gracie - Bawdeswell School  Grant Salt - Nick Grit Astley - Bruno The Grit Gatsby - Ellie, 9  Grit Expectations - Riely,   Grit Yarmouth - Stanley, 9 Gritosaurus - Florence, 4  Gritty Gritty Bang Bang - Frankie, Gus The Gritter - Erin, 6  Harry Gritter and The Chamber Of Salts - Tudor, 10

Ice Warrior - Horsford School  Kitt The Grit - Andrew  K-Popsicle - Clara,    Lando Norice - Chloe, 7, Nyle   8  Let's Be Gritting You – [3 votes] Luke Grittler - Bill Maleficent - Sorina, 6  Margrit- Stanley,    Norwich Gritty FC - David On The Ball Gritty – [5 votes] Paddington Brrrrrr - Dougie, 5  Polar Patroller - Joseph,    Salt and Gritter - Bonnie  Saltimus Prime - Mabel, 4  Sandy Snowgo - Martha, 9  Sleet Caroline - Ralph, 8  Slippy Slayer - Kye, 7  Snow Stopper - Archie, 6  Snowball 3000 – Alexis 9  Snowbi-Gone Kenobi - Mia, 9  Sprinkle Sprinkle Little Star - William, 11 Taylor Drift - Millie, Thawa Hird - Richard The Ice Tamer - Lexi, 5 True Grit – [14 votes] Usain Salt - Lily-May, 7 Wall-Ice And Gromit - William, 9 Walter The Salter - Sydney, 9

Thank you Liz for sending me this news story.

Does your county council name its gritters?
Which is your favourite name in this list?
And what would you call a gritter?