Anthony Bamford

The Right Honourable The Lord Bamford Kt, DL
Born	Anthony Paul Bamford (1945-10-23) 23 October 1945[1] Staffordshire, England
Nationality	British
Education	Ampleforth College
Alma mater	University of Grenoble
Occupation	Businessman
Years active	1975–present
Net worth	GB£3.1 billion (2012)[2]
Title	chairman of JCB (1975–present)
Spouse(s)	Carole, Lady Bamford

Anthony Paul Bamford, Baron Bamford, Kt, DL (born 23 October 1945) is a British businessman, Chairman of JCB. He succeeded his father, Joseph Cyril Bamford, as chairman and managing director of JCB in 1975, at the age of 30. He was knighted in 1990^[3] at the age of 45. His wealth was estimated at £3.1 billion as of April 2012.^[2]

Education

Bamford was educated at Ampleforth College, a boarding independent school near the village and civil parish of Ampleforth in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England (about 23 miles (37 km) north of York, and on the edge of the North York Moors National Park), followed by the University of Grenoble, a former university in the city of Grenoble in South East France, at the foot of the French Alps.^[4]

Life and career

Bamford has been outspoken on the need for the Government to champion manufacturing in the UK and commissioned a report in 2012 on the subject which was sent directly to David Cameron.^[5] He was elevated to the House of Lords in August 2013.^[6]

Bamford expressed an interest in purchasing Jaguar Cars in August 2006,^[7] but backed out when told the sale would also involve Land Rover, which he did not wish to buy.

Bamford is married to Carole, Lady Bamford, OBE.

Outside of business, Bamford is a well-known collector of early vintage Ferraris,^[8] and is the only individual to own two Ferrari 250 GTOs.^[9] He was also once the owner of a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 grand prix car raced by the five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina.^[10]

In 1974, he sued the then MP Jeffrey Archer for bankruptcy after Archer failed to repay a £172,000 loan. Archer had lost the money in a fraudulent share scam. Archer later repaid the money from his earnings as a novelist and Bamford subsequently withdrew the bankruptcy notice.^[11]

Politics

Bamford is a major donor to the Conservative Party and donated £1m before the 2010 General Election.

Prime Minister David Cameron recommended Bamford for a peerage in 2010. However, Bamford withdrew his name from consideration days before the members were announced.^[12]

On 3 October 2013 he was created a Life Peer taking the title Baron Bamford, of Daylesford in the County of Gloucestershire and of Wootton in the County of Staffordshire.^[13]

Bamford is also close to Tony Blair and Prince Charles.^[14]

Styles and honours

• Mr Anthony Bamford (1945–90)
• Sir Anthony Bamford (1990–2002)
• Sir Anthony Bamford DL (2002–2013)
• The Lord Bamford DL (2013–present)

References