£10,000 boost from cyclists for JCB’S NSPCC Appeal

AROUND 250 cyclists helped give a £10,000 boost to JCB’S NSPCC Platinum Jubilee Appeal – including a well-known Staffordshire Moorlands cycling family who rode tandem with their children.

The JCB Sportive event covered either 70 miles or 70 kilometres – a mile or kilometre for each year HM The Queen has reigned. All money raised will go to JCB’S NSPCC Appeal which aims to raise at least £70,000 for the charity’s work in Staffordshire.

Joining those taking part were JCB principal development engineer, Peter Swinnerton and his physiotherapist wife Catherine, 41, who rode tandem with their children Sebastian, aged eight and Teresa, aged seven – making them the youngest entrants. Also joining them on the 70km route were Peter’s parents Mark, 68, and Veronica, 65.

Father-of-four Peter, of Forsbrook, who works at JCB Earthmovers’ factory in Cheadle, said: “It was a fantastic, well-organised event. Once we got out onto the country lanes the scenery was great. Fortunately, it was also not too hilly, and after giving us a head start, my mum and dad soon caught us up!”

The JCB Sportive - which started and finished at JCB’S World HQ at Rocester - was the initiative of JCB senior electrical design engineer, Aaron Turner, and it took in a picturesque route across Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

Aaron said: “The event was a tremendous success and a great team effort. We’ve had so many emails from people thanking us for setting up the JCB Sportive that it really does make all the effort worthwhile.”

Peter has been cycling since the age of two and his family have cycling in their blood. Peter’s greatgrandparents set up a toy and bike shop in Hanley, Stoke-on-trent in 1915 which went on to become the best-known cycle retailer in the area,

Roy Swinnerton Cycles. The business is still trading more than a century later from shops in Fenton, Stoke-ontrent, and Cannock Chase.

Above: Husband and wife Peter and Catherine Swinnerton and their children Sebastian and Teresa who rode tandem when they took part in