Mayor unveils ‘Horris’ the Morris Minor van

HENLEY Mayor Tom Buckley unveiled “Horris” as the winning name of Hofmann’s new Morris Minor van.

The independent garage, based in Newtown Road, bought the van to advertise the business and launched a competition in September to find a name for it.

The public could suggest names on social media over a five-week period. Each week, a winning name was selected with the entrant winning prizes from local businesses including the Cheese Shed, Stonor Valley Vineyard, Gabriel Machin and the Unicorn Pub.

Four names were then selected which were then put to the public to choose a winner. Kim Green was rewarded with a £150 Hofmann’s voucher for her winning entry.

The three runner-up names were Van Morrison, Van the Man and Minty.

The car servicing business also had a charity racing simulator in the Market Place on Saturday for the unveiling, which raised more than £157 for Riverside Counselling Service, which is based in Northfield End.

Owner Chris Randall said: “We bought the Morris Minor just as a bit of fun. We then decided to run a competition to name it. Everybody loves a Morris Minor, when you drive it down the road everyone smiles. They remember their aunt or uncle or dad had one and it gets them talking about it.”

Adrian Marsh, chair of the Riverside, said support from local businesses and initiatives was vital for it to provide its service.

The charity, which provides counselling to adults and young people from the age of 12, needs to raise £250,000 each year.

Mr Marsh said: “Nobody knows when they might be struggling with their mental health so it’s important that if they do know it’s important that they know we’re a place they can turn to.”