Jimmy’s Mercedes-Benz Vito is a peak performer
Bolton Wanderers FC legend Jimmy Phillips teamed-up with Mercedes-Benz Vans Dealer Ciceley Commercials to support a team of charity walkers on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge.
The trial entails trekking over the highest points of England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours, which means a comfortable, reliable vehicle in which to drive between them is every bit as crucial to success as strong legs and lungs.
Jimmy, who racked up more than 300 appearances as a defender for his home town team, as well as serving two stints as caretaker manager, is now in charge of developing young Wanderers talent in his role as Academy Director.
He acted as support driver to the team of walkers, driving between the three hiking sections in a nine-seat Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer loaned by Ciceley Commercials’ Bolton branch.
Led by tireless fund-raiser Daniella Chesney, the sponsored walkers were raising cash for The Christie Charity, which supports the work of Manchester’s Christie Hospital, the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe. Their target is £10,000. Daniella chose the charity as a way of thanking the hospital that treated her successfully for no fewer than seven bouts of cancer in seven years.
Jimmy Phillips“The Vito was brilliant, so smooth, quiet and comfortable that I never felt too tired”
The walkers were up and down Great Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, near Fort William in Scotland, in about five hours. Jimmy then drove them through the night to Scafell Pike in the Lake District, where he grabbed a nap in the Vito before setting off again on the drive to Snowdon in North Wales.
“We had a nervous moment or two when were held up by a road accident on the A55, which meant we were late arriving at the start point,” recalled Jimmy. “The walkers had to pick up the pace but they rose to the challenge and made it to the top and back with just five minutes to spare.”
By the time he had chauffeured them back to Bolton, Jimmy had clocked-up close to 900 miles at the wheel. “Meanwhile, the walkers were also able to relax and even sleep during the drives between peaks. It was the perfect vehicle for the job, and a very important member of the team.”
As a 116 CDI variant, Ciceley’s Vito is powered by a 161 hp, 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine capable of returning up to 45.6 mpg (combined cycle). Its three rows of seats, mounted on rails so they can be slid backwards or forwards, meant there was ample room for Jimmy and his six passengers, as well as all their kit.
Like all Vito models, the vehicle is also equipped with a class-leading array of standard safety features. Jimmy did not activate it, but the innovative Attention Assist system, which automatically detects and signs of drowsiness and alerts the driver through a combination of visual and audible warning signals, was certainly reassuring.
Mike Lewis, Dealer Principal at Ciceley Commercials, said: “We were delighted to be able to support Jimmy, Daniella and their team on this very worthy undertaking, and we knew the Vito would be just the vehicle they needed.”
The charity appeal is still ongoing – those wishing to donate can do so throughwww.justgiving.com/fundraising/daniella-chesney
Check Out Our Instagram
🏁 On 5th September, our all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 completed the 2025 EV Rally, driving from West Bromwich to Tatton Park, Cheshire ⚡🚛.
Along the way we:
☕ Recharged at Peak View Tea Rooms
🚚 Stopped at Sixt Van & Truck, Eccles
☀️ Showcased clean energy at Chamber House Solar Farm, Rochdale
🌳 And crossed the finish line at Tatton Park
Covering 248km fully loaded at 40t, the eActros 600 proved its range, efficiency, and cost savings – highlighting that zero-emission trucking isn’t the future, it’s here today. Get in touch with the team to put the eActros to the test
#evrally #explorer #collaboration #solarpower
✨ Another fantastic review for our Blackburn team! ✨
We’re proud to provide a service that makes things simple, stress-free and reliable for our customers.
Read more of our customer reviews here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
🍂 Autumn is here, and so are the chilly mornings!
Did you know that with the Mercedes-Benz app, you can pre-heat your electric Mercedes-Benz van before you even step outside?
✅ Warm and comfortable from the moment you get in
✅ Defrosted windows without scraping ice
All managed straight from your phone, giving you convenience and comfort whatever the weather.
❄️ A smart way to start your day as we head into winter.
⚽ Ciceley Takes on the Vantasy Football League! ⚽
Today, our Ciceley football team proudly represented us at the Mercedes-Benz Vantasy Football League at none other than St George’s Park – the home of England football!
Competing alongside eight teams made up of van drivers and Mercedes-Benz Van dealers from across the country, our squad battled hard and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing an impressive 3rd place overall! 🥉💪
The Vantasy Football initiative is about more than just football – it’s a fantastic campaign supporting mental health awareness for van drivers, many of whom work in isolating roles. We`re proud to support this important cause. 💙
A huge shout out to our amazing team:
Rob Claringbold, Gary Bridge, Jack Burgess, Matthew Coombe, Alex Lewis, Lee Holden, and Damian Holroyd – a brilliant mix from across our Sales, Service, IT, Accounts and Management teams.
Well played, team! 👏⚽
https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/vantasy-football.html
#VantasyFootball #MercedesBenzVans #MentalHealthAwareness #TeamCiceley #StGeorgesPark #VanLife #FootballForGood
🌍 Tomorrow we’ll be at GreenFleet LIVE! 2025 in Rochdale!
Come and see us to explore the latest in electric vans and sustainable fleet solutions — and chat with our team about how we can support your journey to net zero. ⚡🚛
We’re looking forward to meeting fleet, transport and sustainability professionals from across the UK. See you there!
#GreenFleetLIVE #ElectricVehicles #CleanFleet #NetZero #LCV #Sustainability #CiceleyCommercials
☀️ Our eActros 400 has been out and about in sunny Scotland yesterday, with driver training sessions led by Jordan Lowe and Richard.
Great to see more drivers getting behind the wheel and experiencing the future of fully electric transport first-hand! ⚡🚛
#eActros #ElectricTrucks #DrivingTheFuture #CiceleyCommercials
💬 More great feedback for our Carlisle team!
This is what we`re all about — great service and working to keep you moving.
👉 Book your next visit with our team by contacting them today
https://ow.ly/baCN50WXZVc
⭐ Excellent feedback for our Carlisle team! ⭐
We’re proud to support businesses in Carlisle and beyond, keeping vehicles on the road and running smoothly.
Get in touch with the team to book your vehicle in today.
https://ow.ly/eI1l50WXZPK
We were proud to play our part in powering Sam Fender’s People Watching Tour – the first live music tour in the UK & Ireland to run entirely on electric trucks ⚡🎶
When called upon to urgently mobilise an additional Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, our teams in Bolton Service, Sales Support, Accounts, and Digital Services Consultant worked flat out to register, prep and deliver the vehicle within hours – ensuring the tour stayed on schedule and made it across to Northern Ireland.
This was a landmark moment for sustainable entertainment logistics, and we’re delighted we could play a part in making it happen.
The Advantage event is here!
Pop in and see the team or book your appointment on our website. These fantastic offers are only available this week.
Come and visit us at Ciceley Commercials Ltd, Commercial Road, Darwen, BB3 0DB.
📸 Proud moment!
We’ve supplied CoolVan with their first Mercedes-Benz van — the beginning of something special.
CoolVan are experts in fridge & freezer conversions & like us, they believe in doing things properly. Together, we’ll be delivering outstanding refrigerated vehicles for customers who demand quality & sustainability.
Huge shout-out to everyone involved. More vans on the way!
Last week we were delighted to join Bardsleys Garage & Recovery in celebrating their incredible 60th anniversary 🎉.
Built on strong family values and decades of dedicated service to the Atherton community, this milestone is truly something to be proud of.
The day was filled with community spirit, from the charity raffle (where we were pleased to donate a branded jacket) to the exciting handover of two brand-new Mercedes-Benz Citan vans to support their growing operations.
A huge congratulations to the Bardsleys family on this remarkable journey—here’s to the next chapter of success and many more years at the heart of Atherton! 🚐✨
-
Call Ciceley Commercials on 0333 014 6181
-
We're here to help. You can reach us via phone, email or our online form.
-
Find your local Mercedes-Benz dealer here.
-
Find out more information about your preferred model.
