Industry
The John Deere Limited lawn & groundscare team in 1993; all are still employed by the company today, apart from the then newly appointed division manager Graham Williams (seated behind the steering wheel), who retired at the end of 2010. Richard Johnson (far left), then a territory manager, went on to become managing director from 2006 to 2014
called Ground Control was set up to import, market and distribute the range. When this business failed a couple of years
later, John Deere brought all the equipment and parts back to Langar, and David Lowes acquired and sold it all. From 1974 to 1986, the year when John Deere Limited’s new groundscare division was formally established, David sourced (and often personally collected) his machines from France.
He sold his first lawn tractor, a 14hp 140 hydrostatic model bought from Stanhay, to
John Deere in the UK & Ireland - key dates
1951: John Deere Company Limited incorporated in Scotland under the Companies Act 1948.
1961/2: Deere & Company buys a controlling interest in British company Lundell, a manufacturer of forage harvesters and grain drills.
1962: Lundell (Great Britain) Ltd at Edenbridge in Kent imports 4010 and 5010 tractors from the US for exhibition at the Royal Smithfield Show 1962 in London.
1963: The introduction of the 110 lawn tractor in the US marked the beginning of John Deere’s entry into the groundscare market worldwide. A fully restored, working example of this pioneering lawn tractor is on permanent display in the foyer of John Deere Limited's headquarters at Langar in Nottinghamshire.
12 January 1966: Company incorporated as John Deere Limited and starts trading from Langar, near Nottingham.
1970: John Deere Limited awarded the Royal Warrant as suppliers of agricultural equipment to Her Majesty The Queen.
1972-1974: New company Ground Control in Surrey is set up to import, market and distribute John Deere’s fledgling groundscare
Stanhope & Weardale Co-op, for cutting grass around local caravan parks. One of his major contributions was in the introduction of diesel engines and rear grass discharge, when petrol and side discharge were the order of the day in America. Amongst the very first local authority
users in the UK were Washington Development Corporation, the City of Newcastle, Durham City Council, Jarrow Corporation, Sunderland and Gateshead, the majority of which are still using John Deere fleets today.
equipment range, after earlier imports by Stanhay and a separate parts business in Suffolk.
1974-1986: Dealer principal David Lowe of Greenlay Ltd in Northumberland sells John Deere lawn & garden equipment, sourced from France.
1986: John Deere Limited establishes a new commercial groundscare division, selling the 55 Series compact tractors - including the popular 855 model with wrap-around cylinder mower - F Series front rotary mowers and 430 lawn tractor; Greenlay Ltd is appointed the division’s first UK dealer.
1993: New Gator 4x2 and 6x4 utility vehicles are launched in the UK & Ireland, at September's IOG Exhibition in Peterborough.
1998: New combined office premises and training centre at Langar officially opened on 13 May by HRH The Princess Royal.
2005: John Deere launches the new 2500E, the golf and turf industry’s first hybrid electric greens mower.
2006: Royal Warrant extended to include groundscare and horticultural equipment.
2012: Deere & Company celebrates its 175th anniversary worldwide - blacksmith and inventor John Deere founded the business in 1837.
HRH The Princess Royal at the official opening of the new combined office premises and training centre at Langar
PC JUNE/JULY 2016 I 135 Gator 6x4 and 4x2 utility vehicles Greenlay Ltd Through David’s initial groundbreaking
efforts, the John Deere Limited groundscare division was finally set up in 1986 with Greenlay Ltd the first UK dealer appointment. The first commercial machines included the 430 lawn tractor, the first produced by the American Horicon factory with a 20hp three-cylinder diesel engine - directly influenced by David Lowes.
Get involved in John Deere Limited’s 50th anniversary celebrations by visiting
www.JohnDeere.co.uk/50years
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156