Mike Brine Plant Hire!

Site Sunday with Neve Hudson (ENJOY THE READ)

Mike Brine Plant Hire!

After “Site Sundays” summer break I am raring to go! Over the coming months I am keen to share with you the Site visits I have had the privilege of conducting with the skilled Plant Operatives behind the controls. There personalities are delightfully varied but all share common attributes; proficiency, strong work ethic, astute project management and pride in the work they do, and the machinery they operate.

Today I will be sharing my first visit of two with Mike Brine of Mike Brine Plant Hire, as he took delivery of his new JCB 140X Series Excavator. As a Groundworks Plant Operative based in Somerset, Mike has over 50 years of Operator experience it was a pleasure to meet with him. His recent purchase of the JCB 140X Series is part of a historical JCB fleet renewal programme with Holt JCB, an endorsement to JCB and the team at Holt JCB. Mike purchased his first JCB 140X Series 4 years ago, having previously owned the JCB JS130 and JCB JZ140.

I took the unusual decision to visit him twice so this is one of two Site Sundays. The first visit I attended was whilst he took delivery of his JCB during Glastonbury Festival set up. I visited again when Glastonbury site had been cleared. He has worked with Michael Eavis supporting the Festival team for over 4 decades. Mikes anecdotes and industry insight represents so much and reminded me why I was originally motivated to create “Site Sunday”. Thank you Mike for your time and keeping me grounded.

Plant Operatives are the heart and soul of the Industry. Simply put, Operators “ease of use” could be positioned as the motivation in design concept, which ignited the innovation of the first iconic JCB machine. I have observed that Operators are the influencers of innovation and also buying choice when selecting either their own or their employers machine investment. Evidently JCB have always respected this.

Watching a skilled Operator at work is mesmerising. The responsibility of maneuvering such powerful equipment in all weathers, varied aggregate and terrain, coupled with the required finesse of skilled handling, certainly commands respect. My role in Marketing, immerses me within JCB’s vast product specifications. I feel Operators ease of use, comfort and safety defines JCB. I have personally visited JCB HQ and their Factories in Uttoxeter, walked the JCB Story and have met the JCB Demonstration Team at Kevin Quarry. My visits to JCB Kevin Quarry have given me the greatest insight. This team are personally invested. It feels they are the voice of the Operator, ensuring these key areas of functionality are an open dialogue with JCB product development teams. This open dialogue never feels restricted to the confides of JCB HQ.

Holt JCB is proud to be part of the JCB Global Franchise network. It is a privilege for us to support businesses within South Wales and South West England. Our localised Territory Sales Managers, Specialist Parts Advisors, Experienced Service Teams, Skilled Engineers… in fact everyone within our business … build these essential Operator relationships. Afterall, real time conversations are the very culture of the Construction and Agricultural Industries. This culture of open and honest customer product discussion, feeds into the very heart of the JCB development team. JCB Franchises through close customer relationships, empower JCB to understand the evolving needs of the Operator. An evolution that ignites a sense of pride in myself and my colleagues.

I’ll be honest, I was initially drawn to meeting Mike Brine due to the giddy attraction of visiting the iconic Worthy Farm in the village of Pilton. Access to Glastonbury Festival? Only a week before it opened its gates to 210,000 revelers? I have to confess that moment was slightly more exciting to me than a JCB 140X Excavator. There I have said it! How wrong could I have been. I had totally underestimated that “the main act” was in fact to be, Mike Brine himself. He was legendary.

Arriving at security certainly set the scene for what was to come. I announced myself “I’m Neve Hudson and I am here to see Mike Brine”, the response tragically was; “who?” Panic stricken I rambled how he was “an operator?”… nothing… “drives a JCB?”… nothing… “he is expecting me?” … nothing… “He has a new JCB arriving today?”… the response was disarming “You mean Digger Mike” and with that I was in!!

I was deliberately early, I needed to be ahead of Aardvark Haulplant Ltd. The backdrop of Glastonbury Festival in construction was a privilege to witness. Certainly “not a bad office” for Mike to work “in”. Rob Sprankling our Holt JCB Territory Sales Manager for Mikes area had suggested I visit and was on site. Clearly Rob and Mike had a very relaxed relationship. Already lots of banter and discussions surrounding Mikes current and previous JCB Machines, their utilisation on site, residual value and attachments rolled on whilst anticipating the delivery. Being present for these conversations exposes me to the level of detail the Operator expects regarding specification. This detail cannot be learnt from a Specification Sheet. Our Territory Sales Managers have to have an acute understanding of the correct machine for the application, Operators know their craft and cannot afford to be mis sold.

The JCB 140X Excavator is a site to behold as it arrives, “Mike Brine” sign writing is distinctive in the shadowed effect Mike has chosen. I found it sensory overload as I filmed and took pictures whilst Aardvarks driver carefully unloaded and Rob talked through the machine installation. Mike isn’t a stranger to the JCB. It is evident he has a very high standard, a keen eye for detail and he held no prisoners as he quizzed Rob over every finite detail. Our Exeter Depot had carried out the 2nd PDI following the factory PDI and hot testing. I noted the respect Mike has for our Engineers. Mike referenced the relationship he has had over the years with both our Blandford and Exeter Depots. I instantly respected that this moment wasn’t only the excitement of a new machine delivery, this represents a huge financial investment and a relationship of trust between Mike and Holt JCB that we will protect his investment.

The buying process only adds to the awe I have for an Operator. It is so emotive. The chosen machine after all is their office, an extension of what they personally represent. A decision not to be taken lightly. When observing Mike sitting in his cab, absorbing every moment, the enormity of the purchase he has made is overwhelming to me and I am incredibly proud of what he represents within the industry. We were joined by Max Stacey of R A Stacey Plant Hire, Operating his 4CX who was evidently chuffed for “Digger Mike” and his purchase. This was depicted by a lot of humour and ribbing, but I couldn’t help but notice an un-spoken but evident sense of admiration Operator to Operator.

We followed Mike as he tracked his new JCB 140X to be photographed in front of the Pyramid stage. This was a vital back drop for this purchase, it represented so much. Mike started as a contractor here when it was known simply as “Pilton Pop Festival”, as far back as 1972. At that time it was on a far lower scale so Mike also worked locally as a grounds work operator on a vast scale and numerous highways projects, complex and varied equestrian arena’s, and projects at stately homes to name a few. Mike has been a permanent fixture at Worthy Farm since the early 90’s and has developed a relationship based on mutual respect with Michael Eavis. Miachel Eavis has been championing Mikes JCB purchases over the years and is proud Mike is flying the flag for British Manufacturing.

The pride “Digger Mike” takes in being part of the Glastonbury Festival Team is evident, as I am taken on a magical mystery tour of the site! I had the ultimate tour guide in Mike. There is not a single part of this monstrous site that “Digger Mike” is not familiar with. Covering 900 acres means the population it hosts creates a self appointed city. It is enthralling to hear Mike discuss the history he has with this event and shares amusing anecdotes about the multiple celebrities he has encountered. He chats only in passing about the projects he has worked on; roads, tracks, drainage, grading, foundations and footings, briefly discussing the hundreds of posts he has driven in across the site, (too many miles to calculate). These are mammoth undertakings which would have taken project management, skill and thousands of hours behind the leavers, yet are only suitably mentioned. Engage “Digger Mike” on the subject however of Bob Geldoff and the Boom Town Rats, Chris Martin, James Blunt, The Killers and his personal favourite Jo Whiley, then the optics are very different.

Having spent time with Mike driving around the site as he explains how the site has evolved over the years, the necessity for their vast recycling centre, multiple stages, Tipi’s, Circus tents, the sculptures and even the Dragon tucked away out of site. The vastness and responsibility of such an undertaking for the whole Glastonbury Festival Team, I found to be consuming. Mikes historical and present projects within the site are an essential cog within this vast wheel. I felt I gained an understanding of the varied roles and responsibilities that are undertaken as an Operator. That respectfully this is an example of an Operator playing a huge part in huge developments, that create so much local employment and local business growth through utilising a true talent.

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