Retrolilly hopes to have the competition licked!

A FATHER of two from Stratford-upon-Avon has refurbished a 40-year-old retro ice cream van and put it back on the road.

But former Kineton High School pupil Tom Horbury, aged 35, says this time around Retrolilly is also fitted with a barista coffee machine and equipped to serve locally-sourced products to customers.

He said: “It has been used in various locations over the years, and I have just started to trace its history, but for many years it was based in Carlisle, then Norfolk, then Bolton, and now here in Stratford.”

Tom, who was a retained firefighter in Stratford for nine years, after leaving Warwickshire College in 1998, added: “I have only owned it since August 2015, and it has undergone refurbishment since then.

“The ice cream van has been resprayed, has a reconditioned engine and a new gearbox. “The interior was ripped out and refitted, adding a full-size barista machine, to serve coffee shop favourites, as well as speciality teas.”

Tom, who also ran a chauffeur company in the town from 2005 until 2013, added: “We have tried to be ‘green’ where possible.

“We have added solar panels to recharge the batteries that power the lights and coffee machine.”

It aims to serve products sourced within a 15-mile radius of Stratford, including Henley Ice Cream’s hard scoop, raspberry ripple, rum and raisin, vanilla, mint choc chip, and chocolate ice creams.

The coffee suppliers are Monsoon Estates Coffee Company, run by Chris and Anne Parker, who also carried out Tom’s barista training.

Tom, who is married to Marta, said their children, four-year-old Scarlett and two-year-old Frank, adore sampling the ice cream.

Tom added: “We won’t be doing the normal ice cream runs, we are concentrating on events, weddings, corporate events and markets, as well as fetes and classic car shows.”

Retrolilly’s first outing at an event was at Stratford Motor Festival.

As Retrolilly celebrates its 40th birthday in September, Tom is looking for people who will also celebrate their 40th birthday in September, to e-mail retrolilly1976@gmail.com

One winner will be selected and Retrolilly will attend their birthday party free-of-charge.