Linked to ABC Wednesdays , where this week it's the letter "R". The aristocratic Charles Stewart Rolls met working class engineer Frederick Henry Royce in the Manchester Midland Hotel in 1904. This relief in the Midland entrance commemorates the event. It has always reminded me of the sculptures on the magnificent Moscow Metro's circle line.
By the end of the year Charles and Fred had produced the first Rolls-Royce car. Rolls also pursued an interest in early aviation and became a pilot, which caused his death just six years later at the tender age of 32. He became the first British person to die in a flying accident, at Bournemouth.
My guest post for May at the Smitten By Britain blog is about the National Trust property at Kingston Lacy in Dorset. Read all about it:
http://www.smittenbybritain.com/2012/05/guest-post-kingston-lacy-dorset/
http://www.smittenbybritain.com/2012/05/guest-post-kingston-lacy-dorset/
so cool! :)
ReplyDeleteImpressive!
ReplyDeleteLéia
Two important guys!
ReplyDeleteSo interesting Chrissy, I knew about their meeting when they were both young, didn't know Charles died in a flying accident, he really should have kept his feet on terra firma! Really enjoyed your Kingston Lacy review, I certainly would have been keen to go after reading it..if only I didn't have to get on a plane to get there haha!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly changed their world - not many of us can say that.
ReplyDeleteAh...I have learned something today. Very interesting! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post for "R"...great story, too.
ReplyDeleteA most informative post, Chrissy. I have probably read Rolls Royce a thousand times without ever dwelling on the thought that there once was a Mr. Rolls and a Mr. Royce. Just as, around Hartford, there was once a Mr. Pratt and a Mr. Whitney. Now I have been appropriately educated!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about the history of these two. Thanks!
ReplyDeletegood choice; did not know about the flying accident.
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
I hadn't realised that Rolls died so young. Nice to have them immortalised at the Midland.
ReplyDeleteJoy - ABC Team
Thank you very much for teaching me this, as I knew nothing about it before. Please have a good Thursday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a legend has grown from that meeting of mssrs Rolls and Royce!
ReplyDelete«Louis» thanks you for visiting San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.