JCB’s 75th birthday bash

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JCB’s 75th birthday bash: Scintillating entertainment and sizzling summer temperatures combined to make the biggest party in JCB’s history a day to remember.

Around 15,500 people soaked up the atmosphere at the JCB Family Festival, which was staged as a thank you to thousands of UK employees past and present.

JCB's 75th birthday bash

JCB’s 75th birthday bash

The spectacular event was held at the company’s picturesque Wootton Estate close to the World Headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire. Entertainment included eight live music acts – headlined by chart-topping pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

JCB had originally planned to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2020 but plans for a party had to be put on ice for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And in an ironic twist of fate JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who was due to address the crowds, was unable to attend after contracting Coronavirus. Instead, his wife, Carole Bamford, welcomed the thousands of employees and retired employees who attended the Family Festival

Lady Bamford said: “I’m here by proxy. My husband should have been here today for this wonderful family day, but sadly he has got Covid. JCB is family business, built on family values and you are all so important to us. I’m proud of what we have all achieved together. Today is a thank you from us to all of you for making JCB what it is today. Have a wonderful day, in fact have a ball.”

The Festival was compered by TV presenter, magician and comedian Stephen Mulhern who entertained with an audience participation magic show. He said: “As soon as I got involved with the Family Festival, I knew it was going to be incredibly special. It’s been an honour to perform in front of all these people.”

Speaking during her performance, Sophie Ellis-Bextor said: “It’s been lovely being here today sharing it with you and your families. It’s been very special for me.”

Another key ingredient of the day was popular TV chef Ainsley Harriott MBE who staged celebrity cooking sessions in his inimitable style. Acting as sous chefs at his two cooking demonstrations were JCB employees Richard Doyle, who works as an Engineer at JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire, and Lauren Guyler, who works as Management Accountant at JCB Cab Systems in Uttoxeter. Later, guests queued around the cooking tent to get selfies and autographs with the larger-than-life star.

Also on the bill was JCB’s JCB Shakeshaft, performing a medley of songs during a half hour set. Jake, who works at JCB’s World HQ, represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 as part of the duo Joe and Jake.

The event was invitation only and open to UK employees and their families as well as retired employees. They were able to toast their contribution to JCB’s success with complimentary food and drink.

Other highlights included a Spitfire and Hurricane fly-past, while back on the ground a 12-man Dancing Digger team entertained with their world-famous choregraphed routines. A classic car show, ferret racing, Punch and Judy and an all-day cinema tent provided endless entertainment as well as acrobatic and strongman displays. There was also an appearance by Carters Steam Fair, a travelling vintage funfair with rides from 1890s to the 1960s as part of its last ever tour.

Among those attending were husband and wife Lee and Sue Durber from Newcastle-under-Lyme.  Both have worked for JCB Finance in Rocester for 24 years and were there with son Sam, five.

Lee said: “We decided to bring him so he could see where his mum and dad worked and get a better understanding of what a big role real JCBs play in our lives. He has been absolutely blown away by the Dancing Diggers – as we were as well. It’s been a great family day out laid on by a great company.”

Phil Peach, of Rocester, was a welder on JCB’s Backhoe Loader production line at the World HQ for 35 years. The 78-year-old, who still works for the company as a part-time water bailiff protecting wildlife on the JCB lake, said: “I have really enjoyed today meeting old colleagues, many of whom who I have not seen for quite a while because of Covid. There is such a great community spirit around this company and a day like today just shows JCB likes to look after its people, past and present. The facilities are spot on and the entertainment is great – I really loved Ainsley Harriott’s cooking demonstrations – that was a highlight for me.”

JCB Senior Engineer Mark Richards attended with wife Rosie and son Louie, three. Mark, from Derby, said: “It’s been fantastic to come here. You can see straight away the amount of work that has gone into this. Given the couple of years we have had, this is a real morale boost to everyone who is associated with JCB and a great way to celebrate the company’s anniversary. There is so much to see and do and they’ve laid on loads for children too, which makes it a real family occasion.”

JCB Marketing Manager Olivia Chilman from Abbots Bromley is on maternity leave but attended with her husband Scott and their three-year-old son Rupert and six-month-old daughter Alice.

She said: “We wanted to bring the little ones to see the Dancing Diggers and the steam fair – but in all honesty there is so much to see and do, we are spoilt for choice.”

Scott, who is a Financial Controller with JCB Earthmovers, Cheadle, said: “This is a fantastic story all about family values. Everyone has had some very challenging times over the last couple of years so to be able to come and celebrate in this way with so many of our colleagues is just a great feeling.”

Charles Wood worked for JCB more than 50 years ago at the company’s Wootton Estate, where the Family Festival has been staged.

The 71-year-old from Rocester said: “Even though I haven’t been with the company for four decades, they still invited me to this celebration. It goes to show how deeply rooted JCB is in the local community.

“It is a strange feeling being on this site, as I remember planting all the trees round here when they were just tiny saplings. Now I’m looking at them and they are 30 to 40ft tall.”

His friend Gordon Bailey, 81, of Uttoxeter worked for JCB in the 60s and 70s on the cabs finishing line. He said: “When I got the invitation, it was an offer I just couldn’t refuse. I remember attending celebration events when I was working here but none of them were like today. This is spectacular.

“It’s been a great trip down memory lane coming here and seeing so many of the machines and, also, seeing what has changed. Thank you JCB for inviting me.”

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Trilo S3 proves to be silver lining

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Trilo S3 proves to be silver lining: They say that out of adversity, comes opportunity, and that’s exactly how the team at Mount Kelly are approaching a devastating fire that destroyed their equipment store in November 2021.

With a need to replace the entire fleet of machinery, Grounds Manager Mat Stevens says that the purchase of the multi-functional S3 from Trilo has not only saved them buying multiple machines, but halved the workload on some of the sites most time-consuming tasks.

Trilo S3 proves to be silver lining

Trilo S3 proves to be silver lining

“I was actually on my way to SALTEX on the morning that the fire happened” explains Mat, who oversees the 140 acres that make up the college and prep school site alongside a team of nine. “I was trying to make a mental note of everything we’d lost, which included a brush that we used to put on the back of a tractor for leaf and debris clearance. As soon as I arrived at SALTEX, the first stand I stopped on was Trilo and it quickly became evident that an S3 would be a great replacement.”

The ability to equip brush, scarifier and flail shafts makes the Trilo S3 a maintenance machine for all seasons. Featuring powerful vacuum suction and a 3m3 hopper capacity, Mat is quickly discovering the benefits the S3 can bring. “We purchased the S3 along with the additional scarifier cassette, which was delivered by Vincent Tractors in June and since it arrived the team have been nothing but impressed. Its first outing was to clear hedge cuttings from a very hard to reach location, which was no problem whatsoever with the S3’s 6m wanderhose. It halved the time that job would have previously taken.”

Mat is also predicting similar labour-savings when it comes to autumn maintenance. “The Trilo will absolutely transform leaf collection. In other years this would involve four or five people, blowing or brushing the leaves into piles and collecting them by hand. Now it will be two people maximum, collecting leaves and other debris in one pass. We’re also looking forward to scarifying our sports fields which hasn’t previously been feasible with the resources required but now, with the S3, we can really drive to improve the quality of our pitches.”

“It’s like five machines in one and has drastically reduced the amount of money we would have otherwise had to find to replace what we lost.” Not only has Mat been over the moon with the machine, the service that came with the S3 has also been second to none. He adds, “On the day the machine was delivered, Jeremy Vincent from Vanmac spent hours with the team and I going through set-up, and how everything works, even little things like how to clean it after use. The whole process has been faultless from start to finish.”

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Stylish Sirius for Tottenham

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Stylish Sirius for Tottenham: The role of head groundsman is pivotal at any facility, but especially one the size of Tottenham Hotspur’s. That’s why the club has recently invested in the Sirius, an electric buggy from STAR EV for its Head of Playing Surfaces and Estates.

Darren Baldwin has been at the club in North London for 26 years and has 18 acres to get around including 15 grass pitches and the world’s first dividing retractable stadium pitch, and a team of 45 to manage, so it was essential he had his own transport – and for that the STAR EV Sirius 2+2 was perfect. Unlike other brands that repurpose fleet cars, the Sirius was designed specifically as a personal transportation vehicle.

Stylish Sirius for Tottenham

Stylish Sirius for Tottenham

Darren says: “Being responsible for the delivery of pitch maintenance to the highest standards, managing a team of staff to deliver the highest quality playing surfaces and having first team commitments to work around, being able to work flexibly is really important. I need to be able to get around the grounds at ease and speed. When it comes to vehicles that do that well, it’s not rocket science, but it’s not always done right. When it comes to the quality, the finish, and the details of STAR EV, it’s above and beyond what other brands offer.”

As well as for his own use, Darren also uses the Sirius to host VIP tours and that’s when the quality of the Sirius really comes to the fore, as he explains: “A part of my role is to do VIP tours, and this buggy is a good marketing point for that. Being all-electric the ride is quiet, smooth and there are no fumes. The quality of the seats, alloy wheels as standard, easy read digital display, the built-in screen on the dash – that’s something not all brands have, all amounts to delivering a stylish ride for guests.

“It has a sporty look, too, which is very attractive, and we’ve branded it up, so it really does look the part and is just a pleasure to use.”

Darren opted for the canopy design with a glass screen and wiper, which brings the best of both worlds to those using it, keeping passengers cool, allowing for air flow, providing shade from the sun and shelter from the rain, while offering the best possible visibility in all weathers.

The Sirius joined the club alongside a fleet of 18 other all-electric work machines and ambulance vehicles and is probably as big a leap from the technology present at the club when he started as could be. Daren explains: “When I started it was just me, I had one pedestrian mower for the stadium, a set of three gang mowers for the training pitch and a compact tractor. There was no electricity or water to the shed. I’ve literally seen it go from the worst facilities to the best in the world.

“Now the club leads the premier league when it comes to reducing its emissions and we’re doing our part on the grounds side of that. We use battery-powered mowers for maintaining the pitches and with the arrival from STAR EV now have an all-electric fleet for the grounds too. It really represents how far the club has come.”

Contact Reesink about the STAR EV range by calling 01480 226800 or go online at reesink-evehicles.co.uk

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S&C Slatter hand over the baton

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S&C Slatter hand over the baton: Leading sports construction specialists S&C Slatter, in partnership with Beynon Sports, officially handed over Alexander Stadium’s new World Athletics Class 1 facilities in May

Working with world-leading athletics track manufacturer Beynon Sports, S&C Slatter has successfully delivered a full design and build package for the state-of-the-art athletics facilities, under McLaughlin & Harvey’s ultramodern Alexander Stadium redevelopment project.

S&C Slatter hand over the baton

S&C Slatter hand over the baton

Boasting two cutting-edge athletics tracks with natural grass infields, as well as an additional dedicated practice throws area, the facility has attained a World Athletics Class 1 Athletics Facility Certificate, required for hosting the highest level of international competition – including the Olympics and World Athletics Championships.

For S&C Slatter’s experienced team, it was no sweat. Between them they’ve delivered athletics tracks across the country, from community to elite level.

Steve Ayres, Contracts Manager, S&C Slatter, commented:

“This project presented an immovable deadline and demanded the highest standards, but with our expertise, scale doesn’t impact our ability. Strong communication, adaptability and experience are what ensured our programme was delivered to schedule. Others might find the extra scrutiny a challenge – but we produce the best we can, whether for a local school or the highest levels of competition.”

An industry leader in North America, with over 7,500 installations in the last 40 years, the Alexander Stadium redevelopment marks the first UK installation for Beynon delivered under their exclusive partnership with S&C Slatter. Together, the leading manufacturer of World Athletics Class 1 Surfaces in the United States and one of the UK’s leading sports construction specialists, know what it takes to deliver superior sports facilities.

Jason Douglass, S&C Slatter Group Director, commented:

“We were delighted to work with Beynon Sports on this truly exciting project, producing world-class athletics facilities as part of the Alexander Stadium redevelopment.  

With a proven history of delivering sports facilities for the very highest levels of global performance, as well as for community use, we’re thrilled to have provided an outstanding facility for the City of Birmingham and elite athletes across the nation.” 

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