Moray school pupils have put their creativity to work by naming the snow ploughs operated by RAF Lossiemouth.
In March 2025, as part of RAF Lossiemouth’s community outreach, pupils from various schools and nurseries were given the opportunity to name the station's snow ploughs.
The winning pupils, along with their classmates, were invited to special unveiling ceremonies at RAF Lossiemouth where pupils got to see the finished designs on the vehicles.
From over 100 submissions, the winning names are:
Ice Presso (Jack, Hythehill Primary)
Unicorn Daisy (Freddie, Lossiemouth Nursery)
Hercu-freeze (Freddie, St Gerardines Primary)
Plower of Scotland (Kai, Seafield Primary)
RAF Lossiemouth currently uses the four snow ploughs to keep the airfield clear during snowy conditions. Lossiemouth is one of two QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) stations in the UK, which means it operates 24/7 responding to breaches of, or threats to, British airspace.
Timing is crucial during these callouts, so during the winter months personnel from sections across the station must work together to ensure the airfield remains operational.
The naming of snow ploughs is far from a new trend. Various companies and operators of snow ploughs have introduced public naming of the vehicles, leading to rather humorous results such as: “Calvin Harr-Ice", “Gritty Gritty Bang Bang”, “Sleetwood Mac”, and “Tam O’Salter”.
During the winter months people can track these snow ploughs, which are listed under their given names, on the official Traffic Scotland gritter app.
Wing Commander Evelegh-Hall, Officer Commanding of Engineering and Logistics Wing at RAF Lossiemouth, was inspired to introduce this trend to the station during a road-trip in the winter where she saw the numerous and humorous names emblazoned on the side of the gritters across the country.
She hopes that Lossie’s naming of the vehicles will inspire other stations to follow suit with this trend to introduce a bit of light-hearted fun, warmth, and tradition to an important (and cold) part of station life during winter.
It is hoped the involvement from the younger generation, and the humorous names they have come up with, will boost morale and put a smile on the faces of our drivers during the cold winter as they clear the runway to secure the skies.
