Buckle up for fascinating talks on intrepid motoring adventures, pioneering aviators and iconic machinery with Beaulieu’s spring programme of National Motor Museum lectures.
Spitfire on Saturday 12th January is a cinematic account of the iconic British aeroplane credited with changing the course of WW2. A striking and poignant feature documentary, watch breathtaking aerial footage from the world’s top aviation photographer John Dibbs and rare digitally re-mastered archive footage from the 1940s. Starting at 7pm, Spitfire will be presented by Steve Milne, founder and chairman of British Film Company that created the film, along with co-directors David Fairhead and Anthony Palmer.
With Charles Rolls and Britain’s First International Aviation Meeting on Saturday 26th January hear the fascinating story behind one of Britain’s most famous early aviators which led to his death in the country’s first fatal aircraft crash. Stephen Robson, Chairman of the Charles Rolls Memorial Trust, will look back at the life of this remarkable man, who was half of the famous Rolls-Royce partnership with a passion for all forms of transport. Among Rolls’ many motorised achievements was his pioneering non-stop return flight across the English Channel in 1910 and just weeks later, he died at Britain’s first aviation meeting which was held at Bournemouth. The evening starts at 7.30pm.
Across Africa and Beyond; the Incredible Story of the 1988 London-Sydney Vintage Rally on Saturday 16th February celebrates an automotive underdog that was victorious in one of the world’s most gruelling rallies. Paul Davies and James Wheildon will recount their 10,000 mile journey in a 1930 Talbot tourer, which they had bought as a wreck and restored in time for the event. Against all odds and travelling across some of the world’s toughest terrain, they reached the Sydney finish line in just 84 days to win the event. The talk begins at 7.30pm, with exclusive access to the National Motor Museum from 6pm.
Meet Steph Jeavons on Saturday 9th March and listen to this author, journalist and adventurer talk about her astonishing solo around-the-world trip that took her to 53 countries and seven continents. Just months after the end of her epic 74,000 mile trip riding a 250cc Honda motorcycle, Steph will recall her journey. From tackling the frozen landscape of Antarctica to getting caught in a Himalayan landslide, Steph also politely refused six marriage proposals! Hear the globe-trotter’s plans to lead the first all-female motorcycle trip to Mount Everest base camp. The evening starts at 7.30pm.
Enjoy the memoirs of an acclaimed motoring author with Karl Ludvigsen’s Cars and Stars on Friday 5th April. Having held top positions with General Motors, Fiat and Ford, the motor industry veteran’s impressive range of motoring books includes histories of Porsche, Mercedes-Benz racing, the VW Beetle and Chevrolet Corvette, as well as biographies of racing drivers Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart and Juan Manuel Fangio. The talk will start at 7.30pm.
Returning by popular demand is Under the Bonnet on Saturday 13th April and Saturday 27th April in the National Motor Museum. Join Museum Manager and Chief Engineer Doug Hill from 7.30pm each evening for an insight into some of the most extraordinary and iconic vehicles in the collection. Doug will give an informative guided tour of the museum’s magnificent machines and explain the remarkable engineering that makes each of these cars special.
All of the talks take place in the Lecture Theatre of the National Motor Museum’s Collections Centre. Tickets are £10 (or £7.50 for Friends of the National Motor Museum Trust) which are available from Theresa Browning at friends@beaulieu.co.uk or 01590 614792. All profits help support the National Motor Museum Trust. For more information about membership of the Friends of the National Motor Museum Trust and lecture series details click here.