Thousands of JCB’s UK employees were today presented with a special gift to mark HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The company has a tradition of commemorating The Sovereign’s jubilees and in 1977 and 2002, for the silver and golden anniversaries, the UK workforce received souvenirs of the occasions.

Today employees in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham received a gift in honour of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee which also marks a special milestone in JCB’s own history – a book charting the company’s first 65 years in business.

The first gifts were presented by JCB CEO Alan Blake today to Martin Graves, of Derby; Errol Bailey, of Sheffield; Les Walker, of Tean; Hugh McLaren, of Rolleston-on-Dove, Burton on Trent; Senior Engineer Victoria Hudson, of Alton, near Cheadle; Dave Brian, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent and Trevor Burgess, of Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent.

JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said: “I’m delighted to mark HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a gift commemorating a very special milestone in JCB’s own history. It’s remarkable to think that The Queen has reigned for almost all the time JCB has been in business and just as extraordinary to see what the JCB team has achieved since the company was founded.

“The book charts our first 65 years and I hope our employees enjoy reading it because JCB’s success is down to our people and it’s they who will help shape our future.”