Cornish Youngster Performs Famous Digger Stunt

Bradley Gilbert is 12 years old and like many of us previously, would rather be out doing something in a digger than attending school.

At such a young age, Bradley has quickly learnt his way around diggers thanks to his father Adam Gilbert, and his late Great Grandfather Roy Gilbert who was a complete legend in the Cornish plant and machinery community.

Roy was a regular performer with the Cornish “dancing digger” display team for many years, performing at numerous local shows. Roy’s stunning finale performance was to tip over a CASE backhoe loader and crack an egg with the jackleg housing, a stunt that always wowed the gathered audiences at the shows.

Sadly, Roy passed away in July this year from cancer. The family thought it would be a fitting tribute to let Bradley perform the stunt in Roy’s memory. Following many hours of practising Bradley performed the egg cracking stunt at the Great Trethew Vintage Rally in Cornwall over the August Bank Holiday, it was a lovely tribute to Roy and one we are confident he would have been proud of.

Photo: The late great Roy Gilbert performing the stunt at Liskeard Show many years ago (Digger Man Blog Archives)

There cannot be many 12-year-olds in the country who can say they can do this; all credit to the lad!

Bradley’s mum Kerry commented, “Hopefully it’s something Bradley will continue to do each year along with his dad in Roy's memory”.

Checkout the video clip below courtesy of the Gilbert family.