TRIBUTES have been paid to one of JCB’s first ever employees, who has passed away at the age of 86.
Bill Hirst MBE was the third person recruited by the manufacturer in 1947. He joined the company as a teaboy at the age of 14 and progressed up the ranks to become a director.
His starting salary was £1 a week when the company was based at stables at Crakemarsh, three miles from JCB’s current Rocester HQ. Bill was instrumental in the relocation to Rocester in 1950 to the site of a former cheese factory. He knew JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford was searching for a new location and suggested the Rocester site because it was closer to home and meant he could spend an extra ten minutes in bed each morning.
Bill started his National Service in 1951 and returned to JCB two years later. He completed ten years as welding foreman, five in research and then joined the service and spares department as service engineer, later becoming warranty and final inspection manager.
He was awarded the MBE for services to export in the New Year’s Honours List of 1975 and became technical services director in 1981. Bill Retired in 1991.
JCB chairman Lord Bamford led the tributes following his recent passing. He said, “Bill and his generation helped my father to build a company which became a real force in the world of construction equipment. Bill was very proud to have worked for JCB and will be remembered by many, many people from the early days of the company. I’d like to offer my condolences to Bill’s wife Jean and all her family at this very sad time.”
Speaking on JCB’s 65th anniversary in 2010, Bill said, “I am proud to have been part of JCB – it’s been my life.”
