Goldie the gritter delights Scottish primary school students with giant Christmas jumper

Goldie the gritter, a beloved winter maintenance vehicle, brought festive joy to Abercromby Primary School in Alloa with her giant Christmas jumper. The UK’s leading manufacturer of winter maintenance vehicles, Econ Engineering, organized Goldie’s visit to the school, where she showcased her festive attire and taught pupils about the importance of gritters in keeping roads safe during winter. This year, Goldie is on a 900-mile tour across schools near Econ’s regional depots, engaging with communities and spreading holiday cheer.

Originally created in 2019 to commemorate Econ’s 50th anniversary, Goldie is more than just a gritter – she serves as an educational tool, inspiring young minds and promoting road safety awareness. As part of her visit to Abercromby Primary School, children participated in a design competition to create their own festive jumper for Goldie, adding to the excitement of the occasion. Goldie’s impressive Christmas jumper, measuring 32 feet by 28 feet, was meticulously crafted by 35 volunteers from the Ripon Community Poppy Project over 4,500 hours using 1,130 balls of wool.

Jonathan Lupton, Managing Director at Econ, highlighted the significance of celebrating the vital work of gritter vehicles and their drivers, especially during the busy winter season. The collaboration with the Ripon Community Poppy Project to create Goldie’s festive outfit aimed to bring extra joy to communities and showcase the essential role of winter maintenance vehicles in keeping Scotland’s roads moving safely. Stuart Martin MBE, Chairman of the Ripon Community Poppy Project, expressed the volunteers’ joy in creating Goldie’s jumper and hat, hoping that it would bring happiness to all the schools on Goldie’s tour.

Goldie the Gritter’s visit to Abercromby Primary School not only brought festive cheer but also highlighted the efforts of gritter vehicles in ensuring road safety during winter. The engaging educational experience for the pupils, coupled with the community collaboration in crafting Goldie’s Christmas jumper, exemplifies the spirit of holiday joy and community involvement. As Goldie continues her tour across schools in Scotland, she serves as a reminder of the unsung heroes working tirelessly to keep roads safe and communities connected during the winter months.