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Cricket Legend opens a world leader in Sheffield
Added: (Wed Sep 19 2007)
International cricket star Darren Gough officially unveiled the orthopaedic implant and instrument manufacture specialists, JRI’s new £6 million manufacturing facility in Sheffield on 14 September 2007.
The event saw around 230 attendees, including the Lord Mayor of Sheffield - Councillor Arthur Dunworth, the Master Cutler - Alan Reid, NHS Trust Heads and surgeons and nurses, taken on a tour of the cutting-edge facility.
Guests learnt about JRI’s creation of ‘The Furlong HAC Total Hip Replacement’ – the world’s most successful cementless total hip replacement. This included life changing stories; including one from Fred Lewis, aged 74, who following a Furlong hip replacement, was able to return to engineering work and won a charity walk.
Mr Ruddlesdin, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust, addressed attendees about his experience fitting patients with the Furlong hip for the past 21 years; restoring life in thousands of people. Frank Smallpiece, who has worked at JRI as a highly-skilled polisher for 28 years, also spoke about his role; including his pride at receiving a thank you letter from a South African patient who had a Furlong hip.
After Darren Gough, famous for his success on the England cricket team and winning the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing series three, officially opened the new facility; guests and staff had the opportunity to meet him and network with others.
Brian Jones, Managing Director of JRI, said: “We’re delighted key representatives from Sheffield and the healthcare industry gathered with our staff to mark this milestone for JRI. At the new facility we plan to increase production by further improving efficiency and growing as a team; with seven new employees already adding to the current 78 members of staff.”
Mr Ruddlesdin said: “JRI are an excellent company, and I will use their orthopaedic implants and instruments until the day I retire. For 25 years I have never had a problem with a JRI hip. As a Yorkshire person it is important that I’m using an implant that is made with local materials and manufactured by the local people.”