When Prince Charles met JCB

In response to the recent coronation celebrations for HRH King Charles III, our friends at JCB have delved back into their film archives and come up with short film focusing on the then Prince of Wales, visit to the factory in Staffordshire in 1977.

In 1977 I had not long left school and was embarking on my career in plant and machinery with Wimpey Construction’s plant division in Southampton.

I didn’t recall Prince Charles visit to JCB in the November of that year, so it was really interesting to see this JCB footage for the first time, which is presented like a mini documentary, something that the Rocester based company have always been good at.

Prince Charles was treated to a tour of the factory meeting many of the assembled guests and employees at the famous British manufacturer.

He was later treated to a display by the famous JCB Dancing Digger display team, given some training on a JCB wheeled loader, and also got behind the controls of a JCB 112 crawler loader, a hydrostatically driven machine and design that was way ahead of its time.

Keen eyed viewers might spot some unusual machines during the tour around the facility, which were more than likely prototype models that never made it to full production.

Grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy this rare and historical film.