Third ever employee at JCB dies aged 86

Tributes have been paid to the third-ever employee of JCB, who passed away last night (Sunday, January 5) aged 86.

Bill Hirst MBE was 14-years-old when he joined JCB as a tea boy in 1947.

This was when the company was based in Crakemarsh, three miles down the road from JCB’s world Headquarters in Rocester. His salary then was £1 a week.

Left to Right: employee number three Bill Hirst MBE, employee number one Arthur Harrison, employee number two Bert Holmes and Company Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford, who is holding a young Lord Bamford in his arms. Credit: JCB

Before retiring in 1991 Bill rose in the ranks, spending ten years as welding foreman, and five years in research, before joining the service and spares department at Rocester as Service Engineer, and then becoming the Warranty and Final Inspection Manager.

He was then awarded an MBE for services to export in the New Year’s Honours List of 1975 and became Technical Services Director in 1981.

Bill was also key to a factory relocation in 1950. Bill knew JCB's Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford was looking for a new location and so he suggested the site in Rocester – because it was closer to his home and meant he could spend an extra ten minutes in bed every morning.

Bill is survived by his wife Jean and his family, including his four children.

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