JCB gives village playground £58,000 makeover in just nine weeks
The new yellow and black-themed play area in Rocester features slides, swings and climbing frames, after the company and its employees helped replace ageing equipment
A Staffordshire village playground has been given a £58,000 makeover thanks to JCB and a team of employees who completed the project in just nine weeks.
The Rocester-based company, which has its world headquarters in the village, funded, managed and carried out the work on the playground in High Street.
The revamped play area, featuring JCB's familiar yellow and black colours, includes new slides, swings, climbing frames and a roundabout.
Other additions include spring-mounted play equipment, digger-themed face-in-the-hole boards and talking tubes, replacing facilities which local parents had said were showing their age.
The playground was officially opened by JCB chairman Lord Bamford, who was joined by six-year-old Amelia, daughter of project leader David Wheeldon, to cut the ribbon.
Lord Bamford said: “This playground is a wonderful facility. It shows that marvellous things can be achieved when the community and our company come together.
“You have all created something very special for the community and you should all be very proud of your efforts.”
He praised JCB Site Services employees Tim Needham, Mark James and Dan Thomas, along with colleagues from the company's Wardlow Quarry, who volunteered their own time to help complete the work.
JCB supplier Mark Wareham's AMW Services, Rocester Parish Council and nearby Cedar Nursery also supported the project.
For David Wheeldon, a JCB Site Services mechanical group leader from Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, the project had a personal connection. His father, Terry, grew up in Rocester and remembers playing at the site when it had wooden equipment.
David said: “My dad, Terry, grew up in Rocester and remembers playing there when it was just wooden play equipment so it felt important to give something back.
“I also have two young children and I know that if they had a playground like this and lived in the village they would be visiting every weekend.
“Transforming the playground has been a very special project for everyone. I've worked at JCB for 15 years and it's been one of the best things I have been involved in because it's been a real team effort.”
David has also arranged for JCB apprentices to carry out an annual maintenance check to help keep the playground in good condition for future generations.