January 1964 - John Wheeldon (right) carries Joseph Cyril Bamford aloft with colleague Bill Hirst after an employee bonus is announced.

Colleagues have paid tribute to one of the first people to work at JCB, who has died at the age of 87.

John Wheeldon was the sixth person hired by JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford in August 1948.

He was the company's first-ever demonstrator, before establishing JCB's Training School and later becoming visits manager. He retired in 1990 after 42 years' service, later returning part-time as a tour guide.

The father of two was formerly from Combridge, near Rocester, and later moved to Uttoxeter. He has started a family tradition of working for the British construction equipment giant. Wheeldon's daughter Jane Staley is personal assistant to JCB chairman Lord Bamford, who this month marked 50 years with the company.

Wheeldon, a great-grandfather, died early last Wednesday at his home.

He taught Lord Bamford how to drive JCB machines. Bamford says: "I knew John from when I was a very young child because he was one of the first people my father employed. He was a true gentleman and a very loyal employee. My sympathies go out to Jane and all the family at what is a very sad time."

Before working with JCB, John Wheeldon had the distinction of being one of the company's first customers. He worked on farms between Uttoxeter and Alton before he joined JCB and, when he decided to buy a screw-tipping trailer in 1946, purchased it from JCB.

Last week JCB welcomed people from all over the UK to its Rocester world headquarters for a 'Be Your Own Boss' seminar. The company, which began as a one-man business nearly 70 years ago, hosted potential entrepreneurs to encourage them to start their own digger-driving firms.