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  • Charles Rolls of Rolls-Royce

  • By: Bruce Lawson
  • Narrated by: Bruce Lawson
  • Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (4 ratings)
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Charles Rolls of Rolls-Royce

By: Bruce Lawson
Narrated by: Bruce Lawson
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Summary

In 1900, aged 22, Charles Stewart Rolls was the best known motorist in Britain, better known than Jeremy Clarkson today, having won the "Thousand Mile Trial" of that year, the event that launched motoring as a practical popular concept. Rolls followed his success in the Trial by racing in highly dangerous inter-city races in Europe.

He drove the fastest time ever achieved in Britain, although this was never ratified. At the same time, Rolls ran a large car-sales and service showroom in London, employing 70 staff with space for 200 cars. In the span of six months, he persuaded the secretary of the Automobile Society of Great Britain and Ireland to join him, and then, shortly after, discovered Henry Royce with whom his name is now forever linked.

This triumvirate of talented engineers and businessmen took Rolls-Royce Ltd. to the pinnacle of motor and aero engineering that the company has occupied ever since. Rolls helped create the new sport of hot-air ballooning and raced his balloon for his country. He then joined a select band of intrepid pioneers who risked all to prove the theory of powered flight. He was first to fly the English Channel both ways but weeks later perished at the Bournemouth Air Show. Engineer, salesman, aristocrat, pioneer, and businessman, Charles Rolls offers us a timely reminder of British invention, courage, and ingenuity more than 100 years ago.

©2013 Bruce Lawson (P)2015 Bruce Lawson

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Fascinating story of a great man

Highly recommended!
We should teach our children about these heroes of Britain and much less about diversity!

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I loved this book

Really interesting insights in to the early years of the 20th century and the Birth of the motor age and early Flight

Britain could do with a few more Mr Rolls and Mr Royce

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