Wrexham JCB employee celebrated for over 40 years of service

An employee at Wrexham’s JCB factory has been honoured after more than 40 years service with the company.

When world-renowned digger maker JCB opened a new factory in Wrexham back in 1978, young machinist Nigel Crump was one of the first to clock on.

Now, tributes have been paid to the father-of-four who has notched up 40 years’ service with JCB Transmissions based on Wrexham Industrial Estate.

He was honoured at a special long service ceremony held at JCB’s World Headquarters, in Staffordshire.

Nigel, 60, said: “My JCB history started in the 1960s when my cousin was the owner/driver of a JCB. In my eyes the classic JCB 3C backhoe was king of the building sites; its industrial ruggedness put it in a class above the competition of the day and I became a lifelong fan.

“Fast forward to the end of my teenage years, when I finished an engineering apprenticeship at Rubery, Owen and Company’s Whitegate Factory in Wrexham, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“I jumped at the chance of a machinist job at the new JCB Transmissions factory. In my book this was a prestige company making a top quality machine.

“I was going to work on brand new lathes and travel to Italy and Germany for training – an exciting prospect for a 20-year-old back then. I’ve been content to stay at JCB because it is a progressive company and we have 11 UK factories now.

“My various machining skills have been put to great use over the years and I’ve had real job satisfaction. ”

Nigel was one of 66 JCB employees honoured at the special ceremony for individuals marking their 20, 40 and 45 years service milestones.

Between them the group has amassed more than 1,500 years of combined service with the company. Each were given a company gift – ranging from city breaks to designer watches and bracelets – in recognition of their loyalty and commitment to JCB’s success.

JCB Chief Operating Officer, Mark Turner, said: “We are proud to honour an amazing group of people who have given a total of 1,575 years of combined service to the company.

“JCB is a family business and the commitment of our people is a vital part of our continued growth and success.”