11.04.2010

JCB manager retires after 47 years

Roger Bree, UK manufacturing manager for JCB’s Loadall telehandler division is retiring after 47 years with the company.

Bree joined JCB at Rocester, England, in 1963 when just 16, he started in the machine shop where the company trained him in a wide range of manufacturing skills including turning and welding.

Bree’s father already worked at JCB which in those days was still only producing its famous backhoe loaders along with small dumpers.
Bree recalls JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford working with them on the production line and bringing in fish and chips and ice cream for everyone when they worked late to complete orders.
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For the past 12 years he has worked at the company’s Loadall telehandler division, most recently as manufacturing manager.

Speaking at Bree’s retirement presentation, JCB’s chief executive officer Alan Blake said: “We owe a debt of gratitude to people like Roger and his generation who have really helped build JCB into the company it is today. Employees from his era were the pioneers of JCB and we thank Roger and everyone like him for what they’ve contributed over the years.”