Highways Bulletin: Richard Has Been Keeping Surrey’s Roads Safe for 50 Years

Published on: 18 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 18 Jan, 2026

The information for this bulletin comes from Surrey County Council and is written by them.

Report potholes and highway issues here.

Meet Richard: 50 Winters of Keeping Surrey’s Roads Safe

The start of January’s cold snap brought snow and icy conditions to many parts of Surrey, creating challenging conditions on the county’s roads. While many residents were keeping warm at home, our winter service teams were out day and night, working to help keep journeys as safe as possible. At the heart of that effort is Richard Lilly, a gritter driver whose dedication and experience have helped keep Surrey moving for nearly five decades.

Richard first began gritting Surrey’s roads in 1978, a year remembered for the Winter of Discontent and Kate Bush topping the charts. Fast forward almost 50 years and, at 69 years old, Richard is still doing what he describes as “the best job in the world”. Now a grandfather of two, he says the sense of purpose and satisfaction he gets from the role has never faded. “I still love it after all this time, and I plan to keep going for as long as I can,” he explains.

A typical winter shift often starts well before most of us are awake. As a “yard man” based at our Godstone depot, Richard can arrive as early as 2am to prepare the fleet of gritters, carrying out vehicle checks, loading salt and organising routes. Once on the road, he can spend hours treating main routes and local roads to help protect drivers, pedestrians and wildlife during icy conditions.

The job is not without its challenges. Over the years, Richard has worked through countless Christmases, New Year’s Eves and bank holidays, responding whenever conditions demand it. “The conditions can be tough, but there’s a real sense of adrenaline and pride knowing the difference we make to communities along our routes,” he says.

Richard has also seen major changes in the vehicles themselves. Today, we operate a fleet of modern Econ gritters, equipped with advanced navigation systems and comfortable cabins, a world away from the early days when he started as a driver’s mate directing colleagues around the roads and lanes of our area.

Behind the scenes, Richard is quick to credit his wife of 44 years, Lynn, for her unwavering support, as well as time spent with his family and volunteering at the Bluebell Railway when he’s off duty.

As winter continues, Richard’s story is a reminder of the dedication and experience behind Surrey’s winter service, and the people who quietly keep our county moving when conditions are at their toughest.

For more information on our winter service – Gritting, winter service and snow – Surrey County Council

For details of roadworks in the Guildford area please click here.