The Right Honourable The Lord Bamford DL |
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Born |
Anthony Paul Bamford 23 October 1945 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) |
Title | chairman of JCB (1975–present) |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Carole, Lady Bamford |
Children | Alice Bamford Jo Bamford George Bamford |
Anthony Paul Bamford, Baron Bamford, DL (born 23 October 1945) is an English 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 at the age of 45. His wealth was estimated at £3.1 billion as of April 2012.
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, France.
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. He was elevated to the House of Lords in August 2013.
Bamford expressed an interest in purchasing Jaguar Cars in August 2006, 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, and is the only individual to own two Ferrari 250 GTOs. 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.
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.