30.06.2010

JCB's global demonstrator retires

JCB’s globe trotting demonstrator Colin Bond has retired after 41 years with the company. The worldwide events project manager admitted that he had a tear in his eye as he cleared his desk in readiness for retirement.

Bond, 63, joined JCB in 1969 in the machine shop at Rocester, a few years later he was promoted to test and development, where he first operated the JCB equipment. He later spent around 20 years as a demonstrator travelling far and wide to show off JCB products to customers and dealers around the world.
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Colin Bond

Bond said: “I’ve visited every continent and at the last count I had visited 76 countries for JCB.”

When JCB machines were sent to help out in the aftermath of the Armenian earthquake in 1988, Bond spent two weeks there helping in the relief effort and training local operators. His most recent position has seen him take responsibility for organising shows and exhibitions all over the world.

JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said: “On behalf of my family and the directors of JCB, I’d like to thank Colin for all he has done. He has helped the company enormously over the years and you always knew that wherever it was in the world, that if Colin was doing the job, it was going to be a job done well and on time.”

One of the highlights of Bond’s career was the part he played in the JCB Dieselmax team in 2006. Driving a JCB Fastrac tractor, it was him that gave the car its push start as it set off on the 11 mile course over the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA, breaking the world diesel land speed record.

Bond said: “JCB’s business has taken me away from home a lot over the years, nut its been a good life and I’m really going to miss the people here.”
He plans to spend more time with his wife Delia, who also worked for JCB and his daughter Tina, who works for JCB Insurance.