Lord of the loads looks to further legacy

Machinery manufacturer JCB recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, a date it shared with the founder's son's birthday.

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JCB was founded in Staffordshire, UK, by Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE on October 23, 1945 — the same day as his son, Lord Anthony Bamford, was born.

The 80th birthday celebrations of both the company and Lord Bamford began by stepping back in time to where it all began, with the unveiling of a blue heritage plaque on the spot where the original 12 by 15-foot garage stood in High Street, Uttoxeter.

Lord Bamford's father rented the lockup facility - which had no electricity - for 30 shillings a week and it was there he made his first product, a farm trailer built largely from wartime scrap, which he sold for £45 at Uttoxeter market.

Joseph stayed at the garage for 18 months until the owner asked him to leave because she didn't approve of Sunday working. He then moved down the road to a stable block at Crakemarsh, a few miles north of the town.

Revealing the plaque at Hollydene House, Lord Bamford said his earliest memory of the business was of him playing in his father's workshop.