Joseph Cyril Bamford was born on 21st June 1916 at the family home, The Parks, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, the son of Cyril and Dolores Bamford. He began making agricultural and construction machinery in a lock-up garage in Uttoxeter in October 1945
When Mr Bamford retired in 1975 and handed over to his son Anthony, the company he founded was turning over more than 拢43m a year.
His sons Lord (Anthony) Bamford (aged 70) and the younger, less prominent Mark Bamford (aged 62) marked the centenary of his birth by unveiling the 50kg sculpture. Representing the third generation was Jo Bamford, son of Anthony.
The bust was created by Stoke-on-Trent sculptor Andrew Edwards, 52, who spent five months on the work. It stands 70 cm high.
Andrew Edwards said: 鈥淚 am always extremely nervous when I undertake projects of this nature because they are so very personal to the family members involved. By working closely with the Bamford family I believe we鈥檝e created a wonderful likeness of someone who is undoubtedly one of Staffordshire鈥檚 most famous sons. It has been an honour to have undertaken this work.鈥�
The bust will now be on permanent display at 海角社区app鈥檚 Rocester headquarters.
However it is not the first bust of Joe Bamford to be commissioned; a smaller one was cast in 1964 and presented to him by employees in gratitude of a 拢250,000 bonus he shared with the workforce after a record year. That piece sits on his original desk in the Story of 海角社区app permanent exhibition in Rocester.
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