Dancing digger demonstrations, factory tours and the UK’s first glimpse of a super-charged JCB machine will entertain the crowds at a memorable open day to mark JCB’s 60th anniversary.
An eye-catching display of historic JCB machines is also lined up for the huge 60th anniversary event, which will be attended by more than 4,000 of JCB’s UK employees from the company’s 10 factories in Rocester, Rugeley, Uttoxeter, Wrexham, Cheadle and Church Broughton in Derbyshire.
The public are invited to join in the celebrations at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester on Saturday, September 10th and a limited number of tickets priced at £3 each are available on a first-come-first-served basis by telephoning Freephone 0800 781 4182.
The closing date for ticket applications is Friday, August 19th and all proceeds from ticket sales will be shared between the Donna Louise Trust Treetops Children’s Hospice in Stoke-on-Trent, which cares for children with life-limiting illnesses; the Staffordshire Air Ambulance and the NSPCC.
JCB Worldwide Events Manager Geoff Bourne said: “The open day promises to be the biggest single public celebration in JCB’s history and will be an occasion to remember, not only for employees and people in Staffordshire and Derbyshire, but also across the rest of the region and the UK.
“The last open day five years ago attracted people from all over Britain, so demand for tickets is expected to be very high. This event will raise money for very worthwhile causes and will be an excellent day out for all the family.
“We would advise any members of the public wishing to attend to obtain their tickets early by ringing the freephone hotline we have set up.”
The event will spotlight the JCB success story, which began on October 23rd 1945, when the late Joseph Cyril Bamford universally known as Mr JCB set up his own company in a lock-up garage in Uttoxeter. Here, he went on to make his first product, a tipping trailer, which he sold for £45.
From these humble beginnings, the company has become the world’s largest privately-owned construction equipment maker with 14 factories on four continents and a turnover in excess of £1 billion.
The Open Day will include an impressive line-up of events which capture the spirit of JCB. These include exhilarating demonstrations by the world-renowned JCB Dancing Diggers as well as the display of JCB machines through the decades.
There will also be a rare chance to see the new powerful JCB GT roar into action. This super-charged machine, never seen outside of the Unites States before, is fitted with a V8 Chevrolet engine and is capable of reaching 100 mph.
Others features include sky diving displays, tethered hot air balloon rides, fairground rides, face painting, factory tours, an ‘It’s a Knockout’ style competition and arena shows.
The all-day event will finish on a high with a musical and firework extravaganza by the lakeside and will feature music from the last six decades.