rocester Archives - Times Echo and Life

April 14, 2022

Opening ceremony honour for our Gaz

An East Staffordshire veteran is to have the honour of leading out his country’s team at an international event this year. Rocester veteran, Gareth (Gaz) Hennis has been chosen to represent his country in this month’s Invictus Games – he will be competing in the archery and powerlifting contests.

“Everything’s gone. It’s totally devastated”

Three brothers have launched an appeal for photographs featuring their family, after almost 60 years of memories were destroyed in a fire. Rita Halsey, aged 82, lost her home and all her belongings in the fire at Rocester, which spread through three properties in Abbey Road on March 31.

More than £4,500 raised for house fire victims

A village community has rallied round to help families who have been affected by a fire in the area. The incident happened in Rocester on Thursday (March 31) and saw a number of families being evacuated by police from their homes for safety reasons.

Jumping for job joy after gaining permanent contracts

Husband-and-wife agency employees Julie and Sean McReynolds are jumping for joy - after being handed permanent JCB contracts. The couple, from Alton, both gave up permanent jobs with other employers to take up agency positions with JCB in 2018 – Julie at the World HQ in Rocester and Sean at JCB Earthmovers in Cheadle.

Teen injured in hammer robbery

MASKED robbers have attacked a teenager with a hammer. A group of young people were walking in Rocester when the attack happened.

Staff and students told to self-isolate following two cases of Covid-19

A member of staff at an academy has tested positive – the news comes just days after a student at the same academy tested positive. Around 100 students at JCB Academy in Rocester were told, last week, to self-isolate for 14 days after one student tested positive for Covid-19.

Top apprentice awards for JCB employees

A JCB Design Engineer is the toast of the UK today after winning a national apprentice award. Louise Meredith, aged 21, scooped the title of Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year at the finals of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) Awards in London recently just weeks after winning the regional final. Louise, a Design Engineer in the Loadall division at JCB World Headquarters, in Rocester, said: “I’m passionate about apprenticeships and undertaking a degree/higher apprenticeship has been a fantastic way to start my career, so to win this national award is just amazing.

Award-winning employee retires

AN AWARD-WINNING employee at a Staffordshire business has retired after more than three decades. JCB has paid tribute to Roy Bamford who has retired after 32 years with the company. Roy, aged 58 of Cheadle, has stepped down as Group Purchasing Manager at JCB World Headquarters, in Rocester.

Record multi-million-pound sale for JCB

A STAFFORDSHIRE business has secured the biggest ever single-sale from a United Kingdom business in the company's 69-year history. JCB, which bases it's headquarters in Rocester, has landed a two-year deal with plant hire corporation Ardent Hire Solutions worth £75 million for 1,100 telescopic handlers. A collection of backhoe loaders, fork lifts and site-dumpers are also included in the agreement.

Piggy banks stolen after raid at pre-school

CHILDREN'S piggy banks are among the items which have been stolen by thieves who targeted a village pre-school. First Steps Pre-School in Rocester was burgled in the early hours of Friday, March 29. Staff at the pre-school were heart-broken to discover later that morning that offender(s) had not only damaged external and internal doors to smash their way into the High Street property, but they also stole petty cash which was to be used for the children's food and they also took seven piggy banks which belonged to the children themselves.

JCB honours long-standing employees

A SPECIAL tribute has been paid to JCB employees who have clocked up more than 1,500 years service between them. A total of 66 long-serving employees were honoured at a VIP lunch and presentation ceremony at JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester. At the lunch employees who were celebrating 20, 40 and 45 year service milestones were each 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 celebrates record number of contracts for apprentices

A RECORD-breaking group of JCB apprentices had two reasons to celebrate at the launch of National Apprenticeships Week. A total of 79 apprentices were awarded their apprenticeship certificates on Monday, March 4 at the same time as getting coveted contracts of employment with the Staffordshire-based digger maker. The group is the biggest in the history of JCB to graduate as Level 2 and 3 apprentices in a single year. They received their awards from JCB directors at a special graduation ceremony at JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester.

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