I am posting this simply out of interest because I neither knew of this incident nor bothered to look into either of the chaps who’s engines bear the same name which many adore so much.
Here is the article found on a websearch on an information britain website.
“Enormous bravery was needed to be an aviation pioneer. Much about the early days of powered flight was hit and miss, often in the literal sense: engines failed and pilots were forced to glide to impromptu landing sites; and mechanical parts could be somewhat delicate too. Thus it was with the first aeronautical fatality in British history, when the tail of a Wright Flyer built under license by Short Brothers broke off during a display in Bournemouth on July 12 1910.
The ensuing accident killed the craft’s pilot, this tragedy being even more significant in that the man flying the plane was Charles Rolls , who with Henry Royce had just four years previously founded their famous car company . Rolls was just 32.”
By: DragonRapide - 31st October 2012 at 14:00
I seem to recall a statue to Rolls, perhaps on the front at Dover. Maybe this is what Minimans was thinking of? It commemorates, I think, his non-stop double Channel crossing – the first time this had been done, and less than a year after Bleriot achieved the first single crossing. Five weeks later, he met his end in Bournemouth.
By: daveg4otu - 31st October 2012 at 11:22
The memorial (to Rolls) is not “on the seafront” but in the grounds of the St Peter School St Catherines Rd…about 600 yds from the sea.There is not public access – permission is needed from the School to view it.
By: Flanker_man - 31st October 2012 at 09:12
Found by accident, some thought provoking facts about Rolls Royce;
I was about to post that the RR badge was changed to black on the death of Charles Rolls – when I too found that same website.
Clearly an urban myth – if the website is correct ?
Ken
By: Wokka Bob - 30th October 2012 at 20:14
True or False facts?
Found by accident, some thought provoking facts about Rolls Royce;
By: Merlin3945 - 30th October 2012 at 19:49
Thanks for that guys most interesting.
Its funny how if something is not your forte you tend not to look things up. However a chance find such as this might spark a lot of interest.
Thanks again some famous names indeed.
By: charliehunt - 30th October 2012 at 08:34
Indeed so and in which case you might enjoy reading this – some very famous names listed there!
By: minimans - 29th October 2012 at 23:11
Tis True There’s a tribute on the sea-front can’t seem to post pictures so here’s a link……….. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37898195
Sign In
October 28, 2012 at 9:27 pm