A dedicated gritter driver with Durham County Council has been named as the first ever Gritter Driver of the Year, a new award from Econ Engineering, the UK manufacturer of gritters and winter maintenance vehicles.
Gary Lawson, 62, from Crook, was nominated by four of his managers to win the award, citing his professionalism, community spirit and technical knowhow as just some of the reasons behind the recognition, with many colleagues referring to Gary as “the AA” of the gritter world, due to his unrivalled knowledge of the vehicles and problem-solving abilities.
From missing Christmas mornings with his family, to leaving baskets in the supermarket, like many other gritter drivers, Gary is no stranger to juggling his personal life with his life on the roads. It was this commitment, along with his dedication to the younger generation of gritter drivers, that really wowed the judges.
Gary commented:
“There’s been many a Christmas morning when my wife, son and now grandchildren have held off opening presents until I get back from work. It’s not easy, but my family is incredibly supportive of my job and understand that it’s something I’ve just got to do. I’ve also been known to abandon my shopping basket in the Coop when I’m on call. When the weather turns, it’s about getting to the yard as quickly as you can.
“On another occasion, I got a call from my manager on April Fool’s Day, asking me to go and rescue three abandoned cars on the Teasdale border. Obviously, I thought he was joking but sure enough, 100m up, the weather changed and I ended up with a cab full of stranded drivers and passengers. There’s no rule book for every eventuality that we come across, which is why I’m so passionate about passing on my experience to the younger drivers. Honestly, I’ve seen it all and sometimes, our experiences make Ice Road Truckers look like toddlers!”
A qualified winter maintenance assessor, Gary thrives on mentoring new winter maintenance operatives and even dedicates time to represent the industry at events and in schools, recently being instrumental in a children’s naming competition for the council’s new snow blower.
Jonathan Lupton, managing director at Econ said:
“Reading every one of the entries to the Gritter Driver of the Year competition was incredibly heart-warming, but Gary’s really stood out to the judges. His kindness, commitment and dedication to his community and our industry really came across. He’s never been late in 40 years of service, he’s rescued people, livestock and emergency vehicles in freezing temperatures and at unsociable hours. He really is a role model.
“The judges particularly enjoyed reading that Gary can ‘manoeuvre his Econ gritter in ways others would never attempt.’ It takes an incredible amount of skill to handle the vehicles, often in dangerous conditions, and people like Gary are fundamental to the future of the industry. One of the nominees also mentioned that Gary can often be found in his beloved Econ woolly hat, so we’re very much looking forward to awarding him with a new one as part of his prize package!”
(Picture: Econ Engineering)
