Heritage & Culture

Perkins is Peterborough

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[prev] …Perkins’ Charity Partner – and the local environment, sponsoring a range of programmes such as the Perkins Great Eastern Run and supporting the Peterborough Festival. ‘Last year alone, Perkins employees gave more than 4,000 hours of volunteer work to aid the local community,’ reveals Annette. Part of the work with educational establishments is to help ensure there’s a skilled workforce for the future; despite diesel engineering perhaps not being the most glamorous of occupations, there are a great many opportunities for career progression and travel as part of the job. ‘We’re hoping to change the perception of what modern engineering means today.’ The Perkins environment today is very high-tech, completely removed from the traditional image of factory work.

‘We’ve gone out of our way to create some very specific opportunities to bring people in who can go on to some very exciting careers,’ believes Nigel. ‘I personally work with colleagues who came in as apprentices at 16 years old; and now hold senior positions within our operations around the world. ‘We are investing very heavily here in Peterborough,’ says Nigel. ‘But we’re also investing heavily globally; in facilities and people. We are an international company that researches, designs and manufactures diesel engines which meet global needs and requirements.’

‘We’ve got what we believe to be Perkins’ oldest engine here, Wolf engine number 28 off the production line, which is currently being restored as a running engine’

The 21st century company still appreciates how it got to where it is today and is thus proud and protective of its history: the firm is keen to showcase this to those outside the Perkins gates. In recent years, it has started to collect examples of old engines. One of those working on this project is Wayne Davey, the external events co-ordinator for the Heritage Group as well as a senior research and development engineer. ‘What we’re trying to do is to collect an example of each of the engines we ever produced,’ he says. ‘For example, we’ve got what we believe to be Perkins’ oldest engine here, Wolf engine number 28 off the production line, which is currently being restored as a running engine. The group’s intention is to find engines that are unique, one-offs, or very significant in the company’s history, and restore them to a point where they’re actually running, so people can see and hear them in action.’

Heritage in action
Perkins has a strong following among enthusiasts (of which Wayne is one himself, with a small personal collection of Perkins-powered tractors as well as an assortment of engines) and the Heritage Group often attends events where aficionados can get up close to these items from Perkins’ mechanical past. Engines also go out to museums as well. ‘It helps us both; if we ever achieve our aim of having an example of every engine Perkins ever built, it’s going to be a challenge to store them all,’ laughs Wayne. ‘By loaning our engines to a number of museums, we’re able to promote the Perkins name and show our active support for our heritage’. The group also assists with enquiries from those interested in older engines. ‘We’ll do what we can when we get asked questions, although we are a small team and recommend speaking to your local dealer first. It’s good for us to see a 50- or 60-year-old Perkins engine still in operation!’ It’s not that unusual that they do though; some more hardcore enthusiasts have driven classic Perkins-engined tractors from the UK through the continent, while, for the 75th anniversary of the company, one fan rode his 1950s’ Massey Ferguson all the way from Germany to Peterborough simply for a factory tour.

‘He did have a little caravan on the back of it so he could sleep in it though,’ admits Annette. The final word must go to David Boulton, the man who probably knows more about Perkins’ history than anybody else. ‘There’s an awful lot of interest in heritage, it’s growing, and we need to be part of it. We’re supporting the future by remembering where we’ve been, the paths we used and how we survived. And surviving is a real key part of anything. This company definitely is a survivor.

For further information, visit www.perkins.com

To find out more about the Perkins Great Eastern Run – including how to enter or volunteer – visit www.perkinsgreateasternrun.co.uk

Thanks to Annette Ward, David Boulton, Nigel Baseley, Wayne Davey and David Corkhill for their invaluable help and time given during the preparation of this article.

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