Huge JCB ‘street party’ to mark Coronation

28 April, 2023

Gearing up for the JCB Big Coronation Lunch are Ella Taylor, Libby Hodge, Qazi Mustafa, Jimmy Hopkinson, Rebecca Brooks and Sean Tucker

Gearing up for the JCB Big Coronation Lunch (left to right) are Ella Taylor, Libby Hodge, Qazi Mustafa, Jimmy Hopkinson, Rebecca Brooks and Sean Tucker

Employees at all UK factories set to celebrate historic event with ‘Big Coronation Lunch’

THOUSANDS of JCB employees are gearing up for a right royal celebration to mark the Coronation of HM King Charles III and HM Queen Camilla – with a company-wide ‘street party’.

JCB will be treating more than 5,500 employees at all their UK factories to a two-course celebration lunch next week. The ‘Big Coronation Lunch’ is being staged at the company’s plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham, where breaks are being extended to allow the historic occasion to be marked in style.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: ‘The Coronation really is a momentous event in our country’s history and an opportunity for all of us to come together and mark it as a team in traditional street party style.’

Factory restaurants are being decked out with red, white and blue bunting and balloons ready for classic British cuisine to be served on traditional street party trestle tables.

Employees will tuck into fish and chips, sausage and mash, a special coronation chicken pie or enjoy a special afternoon tea. A regal fruit crumble and trifle will be offered as dessert.

Business degree apprentice Rebecca Brooks, who is based at the JCB World HQ, said: ‘It is a very generous act by Lord Bamford and JCB to put on the lunch, and really appreciated across the workforce. I think it will be a great way to kick-start celebrations for the week.’

Libby Hodge, a JCB purchasing apprentice, said: ‘It’s really nice that JCB have decided to enable everyone to celebrate together. It’s a great opportunity for us all to enjoy the fun atmosphere on the run-up to the big day. I remember enjoying a street party for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – this will be a chance to get in the mood again, with the extra bonus of having the Monday off.’

Carol Williams, general manager of JCB’s catering contractor Elior, said: ‘This really will be a royal celebration to remember. Not surprisingly, given it’s a very British occasion, more than half of those attending have selected fish and chips for their main course.’