JCB veteran Roger Bree bows out after almost 47 years.

Two men who have contributed significantly to JCB's success with their years of service will be missed by their former colleagues and industry associates.

Roger Bree, one of the "pioneers" of the equipment company, has retired from his role as manufacturing manager of JCB's Loadall Division after almost 47 years of service while JCB's second-ever group CEO, Martin Coyne, has died at age 69.

Bree joined JCB at Rocester as a 16-year-old in 1963 and has seen it grow into one of the world's top three construction equipment makers, today employing about 7,000 people on four continents.

Alan Blake, JCB's CEO, hailed him and his peers.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to people like Roger and his generation who have really helped build up JCB into the company it is today. Employees from his era were the pioneers of JCB."

Bree says his career grew thanks to JCB's training opportunities that allowed him to enter management 30 years ago. When he started, JCB manufactured only backhoe loaders and small dumper trucks. Bree started at the JCB machine shop where he learned manufacturing skills like welding. He remembers working closely with JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford and has memories of enjoying fish and chips and ice cream bought by "Mr JCB" for his employees who worked late to meet deadlines.

"I can honestly say I have enjoyed every moment of my time with JCB. There was never a morning when I didn't want to get up and go to work," Bree says, adding that in retirement, he will spend time gardening, playing field sport and with his 12-year-old granddaughter Megan.

Coyne, became JCB's second CEO when he was promoted to the position in 1992. His career with the company started when he left Ford to become JCB's purchasing director in 1975.

Six years later, he became managing director of JCB Service and in 1989, the managing director of JCB Hydrapower in Rugeley, leading the business that took JCB into the mini excavator market.

He has held the position of managing director at JCB-SCM in Uttoxeter, JCB's former joint-venture excavator manufacturing business. He retired from his role as group CEO in 1997.

JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said Coyne, who died on 6 April at The Priory Hospital in Birmingham, made an enormous contribution to JCB's success and will be sadly missed. He leaves behind his wife Maureen and children Charles and Sarah.