The family tree (pictured below) refers to the relationship of the various Bamford family members who have been associated with the company over the past 100 years.
It will be seen that three branches of the family are mainly concerned, those of Samuel, John and Joseph. Oswald, unfortunately, lost his life in the First World War and Gerald died at a comparatively early age.
Samuel was chairman until his death in 1932 when Joseph succeeded him. On Joseph’s death in 1936, Samuel’s eldest son, Henry, who was then managing director, also became chairman. Two other members of the family also played a prominent part, becoming directors at the end of the First World War. Captain H. John and Cyril, to be joined later by Vincent who became a director in 1937 having joined the company in 1928.
Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, it was necessary for Vincent to be recalled from military service to become works director and help the older family members in the running of the factory during these difficult times. When the war was over Richard, who had been with the company for five years prior to the war, returned from military service and three and a half years as a prisoner of war. Rupert and John also joined the company after military service and in 1948 all became directors.
Just prior to this Joseph (always known as Joe) who had been in the family business since 1935, left the firm to start his own very successful excavator manufacturing company J.C. Bamford (Excavators) Ltd.
During the next seven years the three senior members of the family died — Captain Bamford in 1947, Cyril in 1951 and Henry in 1955, and so Vincent, who was then managing director, became both chairman and managing director on the death of his father. This left the fourth generation of the family to run the company until 1967 when Board changes took place and Mr. H.F. Burgess became chairman.
During this period, Richard was responsible for the factory and production, John was on sales with Rupert and David having responsibilities connected with patents, advertising and production.
