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Charles Stewart Rolls (1877-1910) was a pioneering motorist and aviator. He was the third son of Lord and Lady Llangattock, Hendre, Monmouth. Although Rolls was born in London he retained a strong family connection with his ancestral home of Monmouth. He graduated in engineering at Cambridge University where he first became interested in motoring and speed. Rolls became a racing cyclist before switching his attention to motor cars. In 1896, in the company of other motor racing enthusiasts, he was among the first drivers to break the speed limit. As a result of their actions the speed limit was changed from 4mph (6.4 km/hr) to 12mph (19.3 km/hr). In 1902 Rolls began selling cars and following his meeting with F. H. Royce in 1904, the world famous company Rolls-Royce was born.

 

Rolls was also a pioneering aviator. In 1901 he helped to found the Aero Club and became a keen balloonist. In 1910 he turned his attention to aeroplanes and was the first to fly non-stop across the English Channel and back. In July that year, however, tragedy struck and Rolls was killed when his Wright biplane broke up in mid-air in Bournemouth. He was the first person to die in an aircraft accident in Britain. His body was brought back to Wales and he was buried at Llangattock churchyard. The Rolls Memorial statue, designed by Sir William Goscombe John, was unveiled by Lord Raglan at Agincourt Square, Monmouth, on 19 October 1911.

 

This theme contains a number of photographs of Charles Rolls as an aviator, balloonist and car enthusiast. Also included are photographs of his coffin returning to Monmouth and the unveiling of the Rolls Memorial.

 

Sources:

www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/rolls.html

www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/historical_figures/charles_rolls.shtml