Double celebration as JCB and Lord Bamford mark 80th birthdays

Content supplied by CEA 

It was an action-packed day of double celebrations as digger maker JCB marked the company’s 80^th anniversary last week.

JCB was founded in a 12ft x 15ft lock-up garage in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire by Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE on October 23^rd, 1945 – the same day as his son Anthony was born.

The 80^th birthday celebrations began by stepping back in time to where it all began, with Lord Bamford unveiling a blue heritage plaque on the spot where the original garage stood in the High Street, Uttoxeter. Lord Bamford’s father rented the lock-up garage – which had no electricity – for 30 shillings a week and it was there he made his first product, a farm trailer built largely from wartime scrap,  which he sold for £45 at Uttoxeter market. Mr Bamford stayed at the garage for 18 months until the owner asked him to leave because she didn’t approve of Sunday working. He then moved down the road to a stable block at Crakemarsh, a few miles north of the town.

Unveiling the plaque at Hollydene House, Uttoxeter, Lord Bamford said: “My earliest memory of the business is of me playing in my father’s workshop. Other than my time at school and my apprenticeship in France with another company, I’ve been around ever since.

“We have developed the business and products along the way enormously. Probably one of the greatest pleasures for me has been in developing products with our formidable team of highly qualified engineers.

“As we celebrate JCB’s 80^th birthday, it’s wonderful to be back at the spot where it all began and to mark the location with a special blue plaque. I’m delighted that in a small way we can highlight where it all began and reflect on the continuing importance of our home county of Staffordshire.”

At the ceremony, Uttoxeter Deputy Mayor Councillor Aaron Mansfield, added: “It is a source of great pride that Uttoxeter was the birthplace of one of the country’s most successful manufacturing companies and we are delighted to officially mark the spot where the business began as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.”

Later, Lord Bamford arrived back at the World HQ in Rocester, he was greeted by more than 3,500 employees lining the Lakeside Works’ pathways to pay tribute and to celebrate his and JCB’s birthdays. A spectacular cavalcade procession marked milestones and showcased machines he has introduced since becoming Chairman in 1975.

The cavalcade starred the first Loadall from 1977, the classic 3CX and the world speed record-breaking JCBGT backhoe, the revolutionary 1991 Fastrac tractor and its 2019 World’s Fastest Tractor protégé, the multi-award winning 19C-1E electric mini excavator, followed by the industry-leading Pothole Pro and game-changing hydrogen backhoe and hydrogen Loadall.

The procession also featured eight former students of the JCB Academy who have forged successful careers with the company. It was Lord Bamford’s vision to found the school which opened in 2010 with the vision of producing the engineers and business leaders of the future. In partnership with high-profile companies such as Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Hex Group, it has gone on to educate more than 3,500 students from across Staffordshire and Derbyshire, with every single student either entering employment or further or higher education.

The gathered crowds were also treated to the unveiling of a special JCB 3CX ‘Backhoe in a Box’ – a spectacular life-size 3CX Sitemaster backhoe packaged in the same way as manufacturer Britain’s package the 1:32 scale models of the JCB machine. It will be displayed beside the JCB lake until January, for members of the public to see.

After today’s cavalcade, JCB Chief Executive Officer Graeme Macdonald paid tribute to Lord Bamford. He said:  “When he became Chairman in 1975, this was JCB’s only factory. Today, JCB has 22 plants around the world and more than 19,000 employees. As we have expanded globally over the past 50 years, he has remained steadfast in his support for British manufacturing and committed to investing in JCB’s UK plants.

“In fact, nine British plants have opened in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Wrexham during his tenure. JCB has been backing Britain since 1945—and with renewed energy under his leadership! Today we thank him for that leadership.”

Addressing the crowds of employees, Lord Bamford said: “My father would have been proud of JCB at 80. We have great products and great people making a difference in the world. We continue to hold true to his values of ‘jamais content’ (never content) and ‘always looking for a better way.’ While my father retired at the age of 59, I – along with JCB – shall be 80 tomorrow and I’m still here.”

The day concluded with a formal party for Lord Bamford at the World HQ, with more than 100 invited guests, including dozens of retired people with whom Lord Bamford has worked through the decades.