Life Long Love Affair with JCB

Taking a look back at one of my articles previously published in Earthmovers, un-edited and with alternative images and video footage.

Peter Cockrem has had a long association with the construction machinery products produced by Staffordshire based manufacturer JCB.

In fact, Pete’s relationship with the brand can be traced back to 1969, which is when he first started to use JCB backhoe loaders, the likes of which he remains an ardent supporter of to this day running a fleet largely dominated by the British built machines.

Pete was born in the sleepy Dorset village of Whitchurch Canicorum, between Bridport and Lyme Regis, but shortly after his parents bought a farm of some 60-acres at West Lyn in North Devon. By 1958 Pete’s parents had left the farm and bought a shop near Torquay in Devon. It was around this time that Pete left school and started his working career for a local market gardener, where he spent time running Fordson Dexta and Massey Ferguson 135 tractors.

Some 10 years later, well prepared by his time in the agricultural sector, Pete had the chance to get into plant hire with a local firm called Maddicott and Vallance which would later become known as Dainton Plant.

His first regular machine was another British classic in the form of a Bristol Taurus crawler loader with a backhoe mounted on the rear, these machines were a pretty common sight in those days, as was the John Deere equivalent the 2010 with a 95 backhoe which Pete also spent some time on.

Early in 1969 Pete met his wife Sue, and they decided to up sticks and move to Yeovil in Somerset to forge a new life together. Pete secured a job with local company Carpenters Plant Hire and it was here that he got his first introduction to the venerable JCB 3C, in this instance a MKII variant powered by Nuffield three-cylinder diesel engine.

Having spent some six years of employment with Carpenters, in October 1975 Pete decided to take the leap of faith and become an owner operator forming Pete Cockrem Plant Hire, purchasing a second hand 1971 model 3CII.

It was a big step to take back in those days, but one that he has never regretted since, talking about his decision to go solo Pete, who is now well into his 70’s said, “There was always plenty of work around in those days, and I could be my own boss, which most importantly allowed me to be nearer to my wife and growing family, this has led to me owning 12 JCB wheeled diggers, and 18 JCB machines including tracked excavators and dumpers, in total to this day”.

Pete continued, “That old machine registration number WRL 592J, was the catalyst that kick started my business, it had originally spent its earlier life with Western Excavators, but I bought it from a dealer in Martock, Somerset called Bill Edwards, it spent much of its early time with me on snow clearing duties, and was powered by the ever-reliable Leyland 38TD four-cylinder engine”.

The old machine was eventually replaced in 1978 with what was to be Pete’s first brand new model, a 3CIII registration number DYD 853T. By this time the 3C was really starting to move on as work was going on behind the scenes to launch the 3CX. The 3CIII was fitted with the Leyland 498 diesel engine and featured a Brockhouse torque converter which was something of a gamechanger compared to the old manual clutch models, an extending dipper and a 4-in-1 front bucket completed the set up.

In 1984 Pete purchased his first JCB 3CX on a B plate the first of many 3CX models to follow culminating in his latest acquisition the all new 3CX Pro which has recently been delivered by his long-term dealer Holt JCB, we caught up with man and machine, his son Andy, and the third generation of this family business Bradley Cockrem, to find out more.

Pete’s son Andy (49) joined his father in the business at the age of 20, becoming a partner in the firm some 20 years ago. Since our last Earthmovers site visit to this family business, Pete’s grandson Bradley (24) has joined the ranks and has also become a partner in the business.

For many years the business model was to run a couple of backhoe loaders, and a 1.5-tonne mini excavator, but Andy was always keen to expand the firm, to push on with bigger projects, and to increase the plant fleet to suit, to the point that today they are running 10 machines, primarily from JCB but with a few exceptions, most notably from the Cat, Doosan and Thwaites stables.

The fleet currently consists of the new JCB 3CX Pro backhoe loader, JCB 18Z-1 and JCB 8026 mini excavators, JCB 6T 6-tonne dumper, JCB VMT 260 double drum vibratory roller and a JCB 140X 14-tonne class hydraulic excavator. Machines from other brands include Cat 301.8 mini excavator, Cat 308 midi excavator, Doosan DX62R midi excavator, and 2 x Thwaites 3-tonne swivel skip dumpers.

Incredibly Pete and the team were still working within the grounds of the Chedington Court Estate, which is where we visited them last time around in 2019, where they are the main groundwork contractors and there is always a steady stream of work to do all year round.

Chedington Court Estate is home to what is considered one of the finest equestrian facilities in the UK and the Cockrem team have been responsible for all the groundworks on the site, including the construction of both indoor and outdoor horse menages to the very highest of standards, using only the best quality materials throughout its construction, its certainly a no expense spared scenario.

Pete said, “We first came to work here back in 2017, initially to install some heat source trenching, and we have effectively been here ever since doing something groundwork related, we have a great relationship with the owner and we turn out a high standard of work, which helps to keep us being asked to do more here”.

The Cockrem team are currently engaged in all the groundworks around some existing properties on the estate that are being renovated including an old house and a number of outbuildings.

One thing you notice with this firm’s machines is that none of them are sign written, asked why not Pete said, “We don’t really bother with sign writing, there is only one machine on our fleet that has our company name on it and that’s the Doosan DX62R, we had that done because the operator wanted it sign written, but generally we just get our work on reputation so we don’t feel the need to advertise with our name on the machines”.

Its early days for Pete with his latest 3CX Pro machine, but I think its safe to say he’s impressed with it so far. The latest reincarnation of JCB’s famous backhoe loader is powered by JCB’s latest in-house built Stage 5 DieselMax 448 engine, producing a power output of 108hp (81kW) compared to 91hp on the previous model.

Talking about the machine and his affection for JCB Pete said, “It’s a nice piece of kit, lovely to drive, has plenty of power, and a good turn of speed on the road, so I’m very happy with it overall and the support I get from my dealer Holt JCB is second to none.

Its no secret, I’m a big JCB fan, always have been and probably always will be, the 3CX is such a versatile machine, that can turn its hand to anything, the biggest problem these days is finding people who either want to or actually can drive them, so many have learned on mini excavators these days, but with a backhoe loader you have to think outside the box and be more adaptable, but in my eyes nothing beats a JCB backhoe loader on site, you can do so much with just one machine.

We are training up Brad on the 3CX and he’s getting on with it well, the youngsters are the future and its great that he can gain invaluable experience on these versatile machines.

There is just one thing that has evaded me over the years as a long standing JCB customer, and that’s the pleasure of a trip up to the factory in the JCB helicopter, its long been a dream of mine to enjoy that experience and hopefully I will get the opportunity to share it with my son and grandson before I eventually retire”.

Cockrem Plant Hire is one of those lovely family businesses that is proud of its support for a great British product which has served them so well over the years, and I’m sure that support will continue for many years to come.