HM The King gets glimpse of the future at JCB 80th celebration

Company prepares to mark historic milestone with visit from His Majesty King Charles III

HIS Majesty The King was today given a glimpse into the future of JCB hydrogen power as he toured the company’s World Headquarters as part of its 80th birthday celebrations.

As JCB prepare to mark the historic milestone, the company is developing an internal combustion engine which is powered by hydrogen, a zero-carbon fuel of the future.

His Majesty was given an insight into JCB’s hydrogen technology by chairman Anthony Bamford during a tour of the company’s Innovation Centre at Rocester, where he was shown one of the first JCB diggers to be powered by hydrogen – and how the machine can be refuelled simply and efficiently in a matter of minutes.

Lord Bamford said: ‘It is a real honour for us all that that The King has visited JCB to help us celebrate 80 years in business. It was also a great pleasure to show The King the progress we are making with hydrogen-powered machines. Today was an occasion that will live long in the memories of everyone who was present.’

The King was welcomed on arrival by Lord and Lady Bamford, George Bamford, and JCB chief executive officer Graeme Macdonald, before going on a tour of the backhoe loader production line where he helped fit a wheel to a JCB digger.

On the tour, His Majesty met apprentices Matthew Walker-Stack, Freddie McCool, and Eleanor Pitt, who is only the second ever female welding apprentice to join the company.

The King also spoke to Richard Williams, general manager of the backhoe loader business unit, who has worked at JCB for 38 years, followed in the footsteps of his father Brian, who completed 33 years’ service as a JCB production foreman.

Also introduced to The King were Richard Williams’ wife, Sarah, who has worked for JCB for almost 35 years, his son Josh, a paint plant operative, and his daughter Kaitlan, who works in production support.

The visit concluded in the main reception of JCB’s World Headquarters where The King was shown the one millionth JCB backhoe loader digger which recently rolled off the company’s Rocester production line.

His Majesty was greeted by warm applause from more than 60 guests in the main reception, including members of two families who have a combined service to JCB approaching 1,000 years. Bill Boot first clocked on at JCB in 1949 and 27 members of his family have gone on to work at the company. Nine current Boot family employees, including Bill’s great-grandson Leigh, were there to welcome The King today.

Ken Harrison, now aged 100, one of the last surviving members of the 1953 team which produced the first JCB backhoe loaders, was also in attendance with family members. He and his relatives have amassed more than 350 years’ service to JCB.

Also among the guests in the main reception were long-serving and retired employees and former JCB Academy students, including Rhys Bradbury. As a 15-year-old student, he had reported on the official opening of the Academy by the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall for the school’s newsletter. Now JCB’s regional sales manager for Central Europe, Austria, and Switzerland, Mr Bradbury said: ‘It was fantastic to be involved in today’s visit and a great start to JCB’s 80th anniversary year.’

His Majesty unveiled a plaque to mark his visit and as he stepped outside to leave, he was met by the cheers of thousands of flag-waving JCB World Headquarters employees who lined the route of his departure.