Robbie Williams among stars at JCB's birthday bash

4 hours ago

Alex McIntyreWest Midlands

Robbie Williams, pictured performing in December, closed out JCB's 80th anniversary festival

Reuters Robbie Williams is performing on a stage while wearing a grey suit and is holding a microphone to his mouth with his left hand and is singing into it while holding his right arm out to the side. — Robbie Williams, pictured performing in December, closed out JCB's 80th anniversary festival

Robbie Williams, Alex James and Paddy McGuinness helped digger-maker JCB celebrate its 80th birthday at a festival attended by more than 23,000 employees.

The event at the weekend, held at Wootton Estate near the firm's headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, was hosted by McGuinness, with Blur's James performing on Saturday and Williams closing out the show on Sunday.

Taylor Swift, Abba, Take That and Oasis tribute acts were also among the entertainment, along with choir The D-Day Darlings, who were finalists in 2018's series of Britain's Got Talent.

As part of his performance, Stoke-on-Trent-born Williams serenaded attendee Jules Taylor during his rendition of She's The One.

Taylor, the wife of JCB Finance sales director Nick Taylor, said: "It was absolutely amazing - my legs were shaking. I'm a huge Robbie fan. I think he's an amazing showman.

"I shouted to Nick to get the camera ready when he came near. I felt starstruck. What an absolutely brilliant day."

Paddy McGuinness hosted the stage during the event

JCB Paddy McGuinness is on a stage wearing sunglasses and a pink shirt. He is holding a microphone up to his mouth, which is wide open, as he looks and points to his left. — Paddy McGuinness hosted the stage during the event

JCB said James also had a connection with the area, as his wife Claire, a music video producer, hails from Trentham in Stoke-on-Trent.

Other events during the weekend included cookery demonstrations, parachute displays and ferret racing.

JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford said the event was a thank you to every employee past and present "for helping make JCB the global success it is today".

"It was a magnificent weekend and gave me particular pleasure that our two headline acts had links with Staffordshire, where our business began 80 years ago," he added.