Born 35 Hill Street, W1, son of Lord Llangattock, John Rolls. A keen racing cyclist, he became the fourth man in England to own a car, took to racing cars and repeatedly broke the land speed record. Met Henry Royce in May 1904 and together they began manufacturing cars, the first being the Grey Ghost. He was a keep-fit enthusiast, sports-player, teetotal and vegetarian. Frequent balloonist. One of the first to fly with Wright, the aeroplane inventor, and the first to fly an aeroplane non-stop across the English Channel and back. He left Rolls-Royce in 1910 over disagreements about the manufacture of aircraft. Died at Bournemouth, aged 32, in a flying accident, the first Englishman so to die. There is a statue at the site.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charles Rolls
Commemorated ati
Charles Rolls
English Heritage Charles Rolls, 1877 - 1910, pioneer of motoring and aviation...
Other Subjects
1 memorial
Dambusters Raid
An attack by Royal Air Force 617 Squadron on German dams using bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. The operation was led by Guy Gibson. Subject of the 1955 film The Dambusters for which Eric ...
2 memorials
Hilda Hewlett
Aviator and aircraft manufacturer. Born Hilda Beatrice Herbert in Vauxhall. The first British woman to earn a pilot's licence, in 1911. Together with her business partner, Gustav Blondeau, she foun...
1 memorial
Avro No. 1 Triplane
Airplane designed and built by Alliott Verdon Roe. The first all-British aircraft, its maiden flight took place on Walthamstow Marshes. The photograph shows Roe standing by the plane. We guess Roe ...
3 memorials
Croydon airport
Croydon was London's first international airport. The terminal building, 1928 - 1959, was one of the first purpose-built terminal buildings in the world. The air traffic control tower is the first ...
3 memorials
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