Patriotic send-off for JCB machines
Five milestone backhoe loaders head to London for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
JCB machines from the past and the present were given a patriotic send-off as they headed to London for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The company is a Platinum Jubilee Pageant Partner and is providing five milestone machines spanning The Queen’s 70-year reign to take part in a spectacular parade through the capital next week.
The JCB machines – including a backhoe loader in Union Flag livery – began their journey to London with a rousing send off from pupils at All Saints CE Academy in Denstone, Staffordshire, near to JCB’s World HQ in Rocester.
Executive head teacher Rebecca Walker said: ‘The children were thrilled to see the JCB machines which will be taking part in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, especially the digger in Union Flag colours. They will all be looking out for them now on the television next week!’
The Pageant – to be held in London on Sunday 5 June – will be the culmination of celebrations to mark The Queen’s 70 years on the throne. It will involve more than 10,000 people and tell the story of the monarch’s seven-decade reign through music, dance, and fashion.
Taking a bow will be JCB backhoe loaders from landmark years of The Queen’s reign. Leading the way will be the Mark 1 JCB backhoe from 1953, the year of Her Majesty’s Coronation. Next in line will be iconic JCB 3CX backhoes manufactured in The Queen’s jubilee years of 1977, 2002 and 2012. Bringing the parade right up to date for Platinum Jubilee year will be a 2022 backhoe powered by hydrogen.
The event will culminate in front of Buckingham Palace and be watched by up to one billion people globally across multiple platforms. It will also be a rare public outing for JCB’s brand new hydrogen-powered machines, which are currently being developed by the Staffordshire-based company as it explores the potential of hydrogen as a zero CO2 alternative to fossil fuels.
