The boots who were made for working

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The boots who were made for working: AS JCB prepares to mark its 75th birthday tomorrow there’s one family with an extra reason to toast the milestone after notching up a staggering 600 years’ service to the company.

The Boot family started its long association with JCB in 1949 when Bill Boot clocked on for the first time at the company’s factory in Rocester, Staffordshire. In the years that followed, nine of ten of Bill and his wife Lucy’s children went on to work at JCB. In total 27 Boot family members – including nine grandsons and three great-grandsons have followed in Bill’s footsteps – registering a staggering 600 years’ combined service to JCB.

The boots who were made for working

The boots who were made for working

The milestone has just been reached as JCB prepares to mark its 75th anniversary on October 23rd – the day in 1945 that the late Joseph Cyril Bamford founded his business in a lock-up garage in the Staffordshire market town of Uttoxeter.

Today the late Bill Boot’s legacy continues as 11 members of his family still work at JCB – including five of his grandsons and three of his great-grandsons.

Bill’s son Bob, aged 81 and living in Cheadle, Staffordshire, started work in at JCB in 1956 on a temporary contract – and stayed for nearly 44 years. He said: “It is a company that has changed so much, but so many things have stayed the same.  It may have factories in all four corners of the world but it is still based on the values that started it up in Staffordshire 75 years ago.”

Bill’s grandson Gary Boot, of Uttoxeter, 58, of who retired in September, said his family were very proud of their JCB links. Gary, who started working for JCB in 1986, said: “I always wanted to join from an early age. My dad, Dereck, would come home and tell us stories of the company and Mr JCB and that sparked my interest. I’ve made so many great friends and have so many memories of the place. It is amazing to think of how many years’ service our family has put in – 600, it’s astonishing.”

Gary’s identical twin brothers Andy and Steven both work at the World HQ in Rocester.  Andy, 53, said: “I think how it is panned out over the generations has been brilliant. I joined in 1983 on a Youth Training Scheme and haven’t looked back from there.”

Steven, of Rocester, added: “Being identical twins makes it difficult for our colleagues, but to be honest, there are so many Boots I find it difficult to keep up myself on some occasions!”

The fourth generation of Boots working at JCB is made up of great-grandsons, brothers Shaun and Daniel Boot and their second cousin Leigh Boot. Shaun, of Denstone, who has worked for JCB for 20 years, said: “There is definitely something in the blood of the Boot family that makes us want to work at JCB.

“Knowing that dad, grandad and great grandad all worked here really does make me sit back and think. I’m really not sure what our family would have done for a living if it wasn’t for JCB. I have a   six-year-old daughter and my brother Daniel has a six-year-old son. So, you never know, I wouldn’t be surprised if they decide to follow in the family tradition.”

Bill Boot and his wife Lucy – who worked in the JCB canteen – had nine sons and a daughter and nine of the children –  Tony, Dereck (correct), Ken, Bob, Bill, Dennis, Les, Ron and Ruby – went on to work at JCB followed by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

JCB was founded on the same day as JCB’s Chairman Anthony Bamford, now Lord Bamford, was born. The company’s first product was a hydraulic tipping trailer made out of war time scrap. Today the company manufactures more than 300 different machines, including the world’s first electric mini excavator. JCB has 22 factories around the world, 11 in the UK and others in India, the USA, Brazil and China.

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Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors

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Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors: Kestrel Contracts, an accomplished provider of natural and artificial sports pitches, has been appointed by Daneshill School to build a range of new sporting facilities.

These include a large new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), a new 5-a-side grass football pitch and the renovation of an existing MUGA. In addition, Kestrel will be designing and building a new cricket pitch for use next year and developing the school’s tennis courts.

Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors

Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors

Hampshire-based Daneshill School, which is owned by the Duke of Wellington, awarded the contract to local firm Kestrel after a comprehensive and competitive tender process. Work started with Kestrel surveying the relevant sites in conjunction with the architects to plan and design the pitches’ location and orientation. Once those stages were complete all necessary levelling, stabilisation and excavation were carried out under the close direction of Kestrel’s on-site management.

Commenting on Kestrel’s contract win, Bryony Ellison, bursar at Daneshill, said; “Daneshill provides an intensive programme of sport for all pupils enabling each child to learn new skills while keeping them fit, active, healthy and happy, no matter what their level of sporting ability is. With sports as diverse as football, lacrosse, rugby, hockey, tennis, rounders and gymnastics being taught, the school’s sporting facilities must be flexible, durable and of the highest quality. It is on these facilities that Daneshill’s teams compete at area, county and even national levels”

Lord Mornington of Stratfield Saye, added, “I am delighted with the work undertaken by Kestrel so far. They renovated our old pitch very quickly to provide an all-weather surface ready for the start of the new term. In addition, the school children loved watching all the machinery from the viewing platform that Kestrel erected, and I am looking forward to trying out our wonderful new pitch.”

Chris Hyde, Director of Kestrel Contracts Ltd, commented “Kestrel has been providing top class sports facilities for all outdoor games including football, rugby, tennis, hockey, cricket, bowls and even equestrian events for over a quarter of a century. Over those years the company has adapted to changing market conditions and customer requirements by keeping our expertise, experience, know-how and a wide range of specialist equipment within Kestrel. That is one of the secrets of our success.”

“However, what really sets us apart from other sports facilities providers is that we are passionate about sport.  We understand just how exciting, rewarding and enjoyable sport can be and how it can help to build confidence and teamwork from an early age. We are relishing the opportunity that we have been given by Daneshill School and we look forward to working with the school to provide some of the best sporting facilities in the area”, concluded Chris.

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Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

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Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand: In 2009 the Colt Course at Close House Hotel and Golf Resort in Newcastle Upon Tyne was constructed with a sand soil rootzone from Mansfield Sand. Brian Clark, Golf Course & Estates Manager, has continued to use the company’s sand-based products ever since.

The championship length course, designed by lead architect Scott Macpherson of TurnerMacpherson Golf Design, measures more than 7,000 yards. This prestigious course is also endorsed by renowned golfer Lee Westwood and was a proud venue for the 2017 and 2020 British Masters.

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

Work began on the Colt Course in April 2009 and was completed by October.  The extensive contract, carried out by MJ Abbott, included earthworks, shaping of the course, the construction of greens, tees, bunkers and lakes, the renovation of historic lakes, installation of a primary drainage system, the design and installation of a fully-automated irrigation system, cultivation, seeding and landscaping.

An essential component of the construction was a sand soil rootzone from Mansfield Sand. Preparing a surface for the rigours of professional sport requires huge amounts of knowledge and dedication. At Mansfield Sand, the company understands exactly what is needed and it is for this reason that its rootzones contain only the highest quality materials to meet that demand.

The 80/20 rootzone was blended with Mansfield’s MM35 Golf silica sand and a quality screened topsoil. This product was pre-mixed and ready for Brian and the contractors to apply straight directly from delivery.

“It was the first time we had used a product from Mansfield Sand, and I was really impressed,” said Brian. “From the quality of the product to the great customer service – it ticked all the boxes and we’ve continued to purchase from Mansfield Sand since construction works.”

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

For the past eleven years Brian has been using Mansfield’s MM35 Golf pure silica sand for top dressing his greens which brings a number of benefits such as improved recovery, firmness, smoothness and an improved rootzone. MM35 Golf also makes for a great bunker sand as it has fantastic playing characteristics as well as being aesthetically attractive.

Sourced directly from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, the Mansil Silica products are predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces – from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

“There is a reason that we have been choosing to use Mansfield Sand for the past eleven years,” continued Brian. “The products play an integral part in the health and playability of the course and this is backed up by a fantastic fast-delivery service.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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Online conference proves a great success

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Online conference proves a great success: The annual Amenity Forum conference is well established and seen as a must attend event for those involved in or with an interest in the sector. Its focus is on amenity management.

This year’s event of course was affected by the consequences of the virus but it went ahead totally on line and was judged a great success. Attendance was extremely good and the speakers were of the highest standard. The internet platform chosen delivered and all ran smoothly, much to the relief of the organisers who in bringing this event together had been on a steep learning curve.

Online conference proves a great success

Online conference proves a great success

The theme this year was extremely apt, ‘Planning for the Future’. The conference began with a presentation from Caroline Nicholls who is leading the term currently reviewing policy in terms of weed, pest and disease management. She highlighted the need for a focus on integrated management approaches and felt there was a need for more data on pesticide useage in amenity. A national survey is to be undertaken in early 2021 and in the questions, Forum Chairman, John Moverley, urged everyone to fully participate in this. She also expressed support for the Amenity Standard and greater enforcement, both issues the Amenity Forum has been promoting. Indeed the Forum wishes to see the Amenity Standard become a requirement.

Caroline was followed by speakers from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Water UK who both offered their responses to proposed policy change and in particular highlighted how their organisations were adapting for the future. There was then three presentations from senior people drawn from the lawn care, landscape and invasive weed control sectors. They too focussed on the challenges currently and their thoughts on the future. In the session immediately before lunch Jim Croxton and Jason Booth from BIGGA and GMA respectively looked at education and training and in particular the need for continuous professional development. They described new ways being developed to provide this in a more accessible and least course way. It was extremely interesting to hear of this and how clearly their organisations are responding to sector needs.

The first item after lunch is now traditionally reserved for a presentation from a researcher and this year Sophie from Swansea University delivered a fascinating paper describing her work in the exploring the life cycle assessment of Japanese Knotweed. She was followed by two further extremely informative presentations. The first was focussed on genetic engineering and the potential it offers. One item that certainly interested delegates was the potential to slow grass growth in the summer and the potential this offered sports turf in managing disease. We were then delighted to welcome Professor Alan Gange who gave his thoughts and findings on biological control – current and future.

The conference was concluded by a great presentation from Keith Kent who has spent a lifetime in groundsmanship and on his recent retirement was Head Groundsman at the RFU. He drew from his extraordinary career and highlighted many factors which will be vital for the future. In his concluding remarks, John Moverley urged the sector to be proud of what it delivers. In the last months, the importance of amenity management has been highlighted in helping keep our public areas safe and healthy, our transport networks running and so much more. The sector is also at the forefront in embracing change and he thanked the sector for getting behind the Amenity Standard and all it stood for. What happens in amenity management impacts upon every UK citizen every day.

John concluded by quoting Einstein who said ‘‘’the significant challenges we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that we were at when we created them’’. John continued’’ Whatever new normal means, it will require a new paradigm as to how we both live and run our lives and our business and economy. I am very confident that the amenity sector will play a full part in this new future’’ John also thanked all those member organisations who had supported the conference and indeed made it possible. This year we could not have our exhibition area in the normal way but you have responded to a different approach and I am so grateful for the support you give”

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SCAG Windstorm ticks a lot of boxes

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SCAG Windstorm ticks a lot of boxes: The SCAG Windstorm, supplied by STM Co Ltd, is a stand-on high-power cyclone leaf blower. With an engine size of 37HP you can see that the expression “high-power” is not used lightly. The stand-on configuration was developed for the SCAG V-Ride grasscutting range and has proved very successful as a format for ease of transport, visibility and manoeuverability.

One such machine has been bought by Eric Gilbert for his Landscaping and grounds maintenance company. These machines are, as can be judged from the picture, quite an investment – but Eric has no trouble justifying it – and not just on financial grounds.

SCAG Windstorm ticks a lot of boxes

SCAG Windstorm ticks a lot of boxes

The quoted performance figure for the Windstorm is 6000cfm and there are several quotes as to how this translates into time saved, for example: 6 men clearing leaf debris on a holiday park in 30 minutes turns into one man in 20 minutes.

Eric himself, working on big properties, has seen a whole day’s intricate work by two people reduced easily to one man in two hours.

And when you think of full day’s work wearing a backpack blower you can see a further advantage as regards wear and tear on the operator, as Eric did himself, having had a back injury in the past. Not only are you not walking about wearing a backpack, you are riding on the machine, with its comfortable sprung operator stand.

Also Eric had also found additional benefits. Where it is requested that grass cuttings are not left behind and the property set-up allows – the Windstorm can blow the cuttings away!

He has also used it to great effect to clear light powdery snow, making it a machine for all year; and if impacted snow clearance is required, a snow blade can be fitted to his SCAG SWZ pedestrian mower.

A man who has been using SCAG machines for years he was already a convert – and now even more so, with evidence both physical and financial to support his purchase of the SCAG Windstorm.

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