Tag Archive for: his

His Majesty The King gets glimpse of the future

/in , /by

His Majesty The King gets glimpse of the future: 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 prepares 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 The King gets glimpse of the future

His Majesty The King gets glimpse of the future

Today 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.

The visit also helped to mark another milestone for JCB – the production of the one millionth JCB backhoe loader digger, an invention which replaced men with shovels, pickaxes and hods and mechanised the labour-intensive process of digging holes and earthmoving around the world.

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 CEO Graeme Macdonald before going on a tour of the backhoe loader production line where he helped fit a wheel to a JCB digger.

On a tour of the production line, His Majesty met apprentices Matthew Walker-Stack, 19, of Rugeley, Freddie McCool, 19, of Lichfield, and Eleanor Pitt, of Derby, who is only the second ever female welding apprentice to join the company.

The King spoke to Richard Williams, of Stramshall, near Uttoxeter, General Manager of the Backhoe Loader Business Unit, who has worked at JCB for 38 years. He followed in his father Brian’s footsteps, who completed 33 years’ service as a JCB Production Foreman. Also introduced to The King were Richard’s wife Sarah, who has worked for JCB for almost 35 years and 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 HQ 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 reception, who included 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 and 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. Ken 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, 29, of Derby. As a 15-year-old student Rhys had reported on the official opening of the Academy by the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall for the school’s newsletter.

Rhys, who is now JCB’s Regional Sales  Manager for Central Europe, Austria and Switzerland, said: “It was fantastic to be involved in today’s visit and a great start to JCB’s 80th anniversary year.”

Also there was JCB-sponsored athlete Adam Burgess sporting his Olympic silver medal, which he secured in Paris last year in the slalom canoe event.

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 World HQ JCB employees who lined the route of his departure.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Polaris winner receives his General 1000

/in , /by

Polaris winner receives his General 1000: Polaris is pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Great British Farm Off Competition, Nick Hopkins. After months of hard work and dedication of sharing his daily farming life online, Nick has been awarded a Polaris General 1000 for an entire year.

At the start of 2024, Polaris launched an exciting new competition: the Polaris Great British Farm Off. The initiative aimed to celebrate the resilience and hard work of British farmers, while highlighting how Polaris vehicles can support farming life.

Polaris winner receives his General 1000

Polaris winner receives his General 1000

Farmers were invited to share their day-to-day activities from January to July, opening the doors to show the hard work and commitment involved in running a farm. Those who shared engaging and consistent content were considered for the Great British Farm Off title and the chance to win a Polaris Off Road Vehicle for an entire year. From lambing season to harvest, the entries highlighted the dedication of the British farming community.

One standout participant was Nick Hopkins, a Wales-based farmer/horse breeder whose engaging content kept everyone entertained. Blending personality and humour, Nick’s posts gave followers an authentic and light-hearted look at life on the farm, making him a clear favourite.

Speaking about his decision to enter the competition, Nick shared: “When we saw the competition, we thought we’d give this a go. There’s so much going on, and of course, running from January through to June, different things are happening seasonally on the farm. We thought it’d just be a bit of a laugh to do it. The kids got involved in taking photos, and we kind of staged quite a lot of stuff as we never really saw ourselves as content creators and certainly never thought we’d win it.”

To collect his prize, Nick visited long-time dealer and friend Jake Else at Derbyshire Quads, where he was presented with a Polaris General 1000.

Reflecting on Nick’s win, Jake said: “If there was ever a winner of a competition, he’s [Nick] one of the most worthy. We’ve known Nick for years, probably at least 15 years. He bought a spark plug from us initially, and he said the service he got from just buying that spark plug meant that if he was ever going to buy any machines in the future, he’d come back to us – and thankfully, he did. (…) Now he’s won the competition where he’s got the opportunity to have a General for a year, so I think he’s going to love that. Nick’s a great guy. It’s been an honour to support him with his products and machines over the years and a very worthy winner. Congratulations Nick. Well done.”

After a day of EASI training, Nick headed home to his smallholding in Capel Iwan, eager to put his new General 1000 to work. Over the next year, the General will complement the two Polaris RANGER 570s already supporting his American Quarter Horse breeding programme.

With its 30.5cm ground clearance, the General will help Nick tackle daily tasks with ease, from early morning livestock checks to managing chores across the farm’s varied terrain. Whether it’s moving hay, topping up water in the fields with the water bowser, or using its 272kg bed box capacity, the General will prove invaluable in keeping things running smoothly. Nick also plans to put the General’s impressive 680kg towing capacity to work with a grass-cutting mower and fertiliser spreader as needed.

As the year progresses, Nick will continue to keep his followers updated on how the General is making a real difference on the farm. From tackling day-to-day tasks to navigating Wales’ green lanes, it’s clear the General is set to become an essential part of Nick’s daily life.

Keep an eye on Polaris UK’s social media to see how Nick puts the General 1000 to work on his farm.

The Polaris Great British Farm Off will be returning in 2025, offering another lucky winner the chance to receive a Polaris vehicle of their choice for an entire year. More information will be available soon –  keep and eye on the Polaris UK social media channels for updates.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS

/in , /by

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS: The RHS is honoured and delighted that His Majesty The King will be the next Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society – the UK’s gardening charity dedicated to helping everyone to garden for health, happiness and the environment.

Keith Weed CBE, President of the RHS, said: “As an advocate for the planet and champion for environmental issues, we are thrilled and honoured that His Majesty The King is our Royal Patron.

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS

“We look forward to furthering our work to reach more people of all ages, backgrounds and gardening abilities with the joy of growing plants and gardening to create wonderful gardens, combat the effects of climate change and build a better future for generations to come.”

Their Majesties The King and Queen will be visiting the RHS’s world-famous gardening event, The RHS Chelsea Flower Show on Monday 20 May to meet the growers, designers and horticulturists that help make both UK gardens and its nation of gardeners some of the best in the world.

During their visit to RHS Chelsea on Monday Their Majesties will visit The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden, the first garden in the history of the Show to be designed by children to highlight to children everywhere how to become gardeners to help the planet, whilst having some fun.  Along with co-designer Harry Holding, the children have included in their design a woodland, meadows and a wetland with heightened colour and oversized bog plants. There is also a natural den set within a pool of water.

Other gardens that will be visited include the Moroto no IE Garden, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara, which is a garden where vibrant acers and a tumbling waterfall blend the beauty of the natural world with the practicalities of family life and The Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden designed by Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Matthews where the hardy tropical planting of the balcony mirrors the structural layers of the jungle.

Clare Matterson CBE, RHS Director General, said: “It means the world to the RHS and our wider horticultural family of growers, nurseries, gardeners, designers and plantspeople that Their Majesties The King and Queen, accompanied by The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are visiting RHS Chelsea again this year.

“We are all hugely looking forward to welcoming them to the world famous event to enjoy the spectacular displays that everyone has worked tirelessly to create, to meet the many wonderful charities involved with the event, and hopefully, as us gardeners love to do, sharing some top gardening tips and getting lots of inspiration along the way.”

Their Majesties visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show just weeks after the Coronation last year.  During the 2009 Show Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II presented The King, as Prince of Wales with the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) – the Charity’s most prestigious award – as a tribute to his deep interest and expertise in horticulture.

Having spent a lifetime championing the environment, The King has transformed his own garden at Highgrove into one of the most inspiring and innovative in the United Kingdom. It is a garden over 35 years in the making, created with passion, vision and dedication by The King and is an exemplar of his organic principles.

In 2013 The King, as Prince of Wales launched the Coronation Meadows Project to create 60 meadows, in honour of the 60th year of The late Queen’s accession to the throne. They have since thrived with over 100 fields of flowers created over the last ten years.

The Late Queen Elizabeth II was previously Patron of the RHS. The Queen became Patron of the RHS in 1952. She was Patron for 70 years, visiting RHS Chelsea Flower Show nearly every year of her Reign.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Gary puts his best foot forward

/in , /by

Gary puts his best foot forward: An employee from The GGM Group has swapped his work boots for dance shoes last weekend, to raise money for Bolton Hospice as part of a prestigious dancing competition.

Gary Taylor, a key member of the after sales team, along with his partner Jacqui Brown, were one of 20 couples to take part in Strictly Learn to Dance which took place at Bolton Stadium last Friday (31st March).

Gary puts his best foot forward

Gary puts his best foot forward

The pair, who have no previous dancing experience, have followed a gruelling 12-week programme, spending many hours learning some classic dance routines.

Their efforts culminated in a glittering and glamorous event which was attended by over 700 people and in total raised over £50,000 for Bolton Hospice and Gary and Jacqui were supported by friends, family and colleagues from the GGM team as they took part in the Salsa and the Foxtrot.

Gary said:

“Jacqui has always wanted to take part in this event and so when the opportunity arose it was too good an opportunity to miss. Neither of us have ever danced before and to say we were nervous was an understatement – but the atmosphere on the night was electric, and the immense support we have had definitely spurred us on.”

Bolton Hospice is close to the heart of both Gary and Jacqui, having supported two of their friends through the end of their illnesses, and they wanted to give something back to this fantastic cause.

GGM Groundscare is a specialist supplier of tractors and high-quality professional land-based equipment for commercial and domestic use. Servicing the North West and Yorkshire, it supplies a range of products from leading franchises including Kubota, Baroness and Amazone.

Chris Gibson, GGM Managing Director said:

“The team and I are hugely proud of what Gary and Jacqui have achieved for this wonderful cause. We know from staff Christmas parties that they have some great moves on the dancefloor – but to do this in front of 700 people is a completely different level and takes real guts.”

“It’s a key part of our ethos at The GGM Group to give something back to the local community, last year raising over £10,000 for our company charities. We’re delighted to support Gary and Bolton Hospice in this great event and to match the amount they had raised themselves ahead of the event”.

Donations can still be made via the link:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacqueline-brown29

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother

/in , /by

Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother: The latest member of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) to attain Master Greenkeeper status has dedicated his success to the memory of his mother, who passed away just weeks before he achieved the certification.

David Perdisatt, course manager at Mullingar Golf Club in Ireland, said his mother, Marion, was a “massive supporter” of his career, making it bittersweet that he wasn’t able to tell her when he discovered he had achieved the highest accolade available to BIGGA members.

Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother

Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother

David, 41, said: “Becoming a Master Greenkeeper is a massive milestone in my career and the first person I would have told would have been my mother. She has been so supportive in my career but she passed away last month very unexpectedly, so it was a bittersweet moment.”

David has become just the second Master Greenkeeper based in Ireland and is the 88th to achieve the certification since 1991. The Master Greenkeeper Certificate is awarded to those members of BIGGA who have reached the highest standards of greenkeeping and golf course management.

An R&A Scholar, David has previously worked at Beechpark and Naas golf clubs and in 2016 was a finalist in the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. He was also the first Irish greenkeeper to participate in the John Deere TPC Sawgrass Volunteer Programme.

Married to Fiona and a father of three, throughout his career David has gained plenty of tournament experience, having volunteered at the Singapore, Dutch and Irish Opens.

David said: “Opportunities to progress never present themselves, you have to go after them yourself and Master Greenkeeper is a process that validates everything you have done in your career. It’s a tough process but in any industry, if you are recognised as a master of your trade, that’s something to aspire to. I have lots of hopes and ambitions for the future and I think being a Master Greenkeeper might be pivotal for my career in the years to come.

“I want to thank BIGGA for everything they’ve done for my career. I lean on them, particularly through the education side. I’m always accessing the website and the resources on there and I just want to say a massive thank you for the opportunity to help progress my career with the Master Greenkeeper certificate.”

David will be presented with his Master Greenkeeper certification at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, taking place on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January 2023. Registration for the event is free and for more information head to www.btme.org.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.