JCB employees says farewell to Wrexham’s engineering paradise after 42 years’ service

One of the first employees to clock on at JCB’s Wrexham factory has bid farewell to his workmates after 42 years’ service.

The JCB Transmissions factory had only been open for two weeks in 1978 when machinist Nigel Crump walked through the door and became one of the first 10 recruits.

Now he has retired after notching up the distinction of becoming the longest serving employee at the Wrexham plant.

Grandfather-of-eight Nigel said: “I only got the job then because one new recruit turned up for work, saw the modern CNC lathe, asked where the knobs and handles were to operate it and decided the factory was too high tech for him and left.

“I’ve loved engineering since I was in short trousers because my father was a bodyworker and I used to go to his workshop on Saturday mornings.

“When I came to JCB it was like engineering paradise and it has been ever since. I’ve had a fantastic career and JCB has been very good to me.

Nigel Crump, then 21, second from left on the shop floor of the JCB Transmissions factory as the first axle comes off the production line.

“We’ve weathered many economic storms over the past 42 years as well and always come out of them much stronger. When I think back to when I started we only had five machines in the range and now I have lost count how many there are.”

Nigel retired just short of JCB’s 75th birthday, which is marked on October 23. His affinity for JCB began in the 1960s when his cousin owned and operated a classic JCB backhoe loader.

The JCB Transmissions factory pictured in 1978

Joining him in retirement were 11 other colleagues who, between them, have notched up almost 250 years’ service. They included Inventory Controller Paul Jones (35 years); Operatives Andrew Jones (34 years), Grayson Matthews (33 years), Ian Arnold (24 years), Paul Rawlinson (21 years) and Andrew Challoner (21 years).

Tim Barker, general manager at JCB Transmissions said: “Nigel has been an exemplary employee who was renowned for being helpful and approachable.

“His experience in machining was second-to-none and he will be sorely missed. We wish him and his colleagues a long and happy retirement.”