Founded by Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE on October 23, 1945, the same day his son, Anthony Bamford, was born, JCB began with a farm trailer built from wartime scrap. Eight decades later, the company stands as a symbol of British engineering excellence, innovation, and global success.
Anniversary Celebrations
The anniversary celebrations began where JCB’s story started, a 12ft x 15ft garage on Uttoxeter High Street. For the 2025 celebrations, company chairman, Lord Anthony Bamford, unveiled a blue heritage plaque at Hollydene House to commemorate the company’s birthplace.
“My earliest memory of the business is of me playing in my father’s workshop,” said Lord Bamford.
“As we celebrate JCB’s 80th birthday, it’s wonderful to be back where it all began. Staffordshire remains at the heart of our story.”
Uttoxeter Deputy Mayor Councillor Aaron Mansfield added:
“It’s a great source of pride that Uttoxeter was the birthplace of one of the country’s most successful manufacturers. Today’s plaque marks an important milestone in our shared history.”
Innovations on Show
The celebrations continued at JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester, where more than 3,500 employees gathered to welcome Lord Bamford and mark both his and the company’s respective birthdays.
A cavalcade of machinery showcased some of JCB’s most iconic creations from across the decades, including:
The first Loadall (1977) The legendary 3CX backhoe loader
The JCB GT, holder of the world speed record for a backhoe
The groundbreaking 1991 Fastrac tractor and its 2019 “World’s Fastest Tractor” successor
The award-winning 19C-1E electric mini excavator The Pothole Pro road repair solution
The hydrogen backhoe and Loadall, representing JCB’s future in clean technology
The cavalcade also included eight former JCB Academy students who have since built successful careers within the company, a proud moment reflecting Lord Bamford’s vision when founding the Academy in 2010 to develop the engineers and business leaders of tomorrow.
JCB Chief Executive Officer Graeme Macdonald paid tribute to Lord Bamford’s leadership, noting the company’s expansion from a single factory to a global network of 22 plants employing 19,000 people.
“When Lord Bamford became Chairman in 1975, this was JCB’s only factory,” said Macdonald.
Lord Anthony Bamford Chairman JCB
“AS WE CELEBRATE JCB’S 80
TH
BIRTHDAY, IT’S
WONDERFUL
TO BE BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
STAFFORDSHIRE
REMAINS AT THE HEART OF OUR STORY.”
“Today, we have nine UK plants and operations worldwide. His commitment to British manufacturing and innovation remains unwavering.”
Addressing employees, Lord Bamford reflected on JCB’s enduring spirit:
“My father would have been proud of JCB at 80. We have great people and great products making a difference in the world. His motto was ‘jamais content’, never content, and that’s still true for JCB today.”
The day concluded with a formal evening celebration at JCB’s World HQ attended by over 100 guests, including retired employees who have been part of the company’s eight-decade journey. In recognition of this milestone, all 19,000 JCB employees worldwide will receive an extra day’s holiday.
JCB have also unveiled two limited edition liveried machines, forty 4CX-Pro DualDrive Backhoe Loaders and forty 542-70 AGRIPRO Loadalls. In striking black with JCB yellow accents these machines will be an almighty staple for whichever jobsite (or hermetically sealed garage!) they end up at.