A portrait of Henry Royce

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32566, 27 March 1971, Page 4

A portrait of Henry Royce

In the summer of 1969 the ghost of Sir Henry Royce walked again through the English countryside. Actor Anthony Brown was playing the co-founder of Rolls-Royce in West Wittering—Sir Henry’s home for the last 15 years of his life. The likeness was apparently so accurate that local people jumped with surprise as they recognised their old neighbour. The “Horizon” documentary “Henry Royce, Mechanic” has been bought by the N.Z.B.C. In this portrait of Royce, “Horizon” has used as much authentic hardware as possible, including one of Royce’s first cars, made in 1903; the famous 1907 Silver Ghost, which has already travelled half a million miles, and was filmed on a journey from Glasgow to London using only top gear; a Light 20 re-enacting its 1906 Tourist Trophy victory; and historic aero-engines from the 1916 Eagle to the Battle of Britain Merlin—not to mention a 1914 typewriter.

Survivors from RollsRoyce’s earliest days before the Great War tell of their memories of the great engineer who always described himself as “just a mechanic.” Now in their eighties, these veterans are the last surviving link with Royce. Their recollections of a perfectionist, never able to forget his poverty-stricken youth, cast an unexpected light on the great man. Film from Rolls-Royce archives shows great moments in the firm’s history, like the Schneider trophy victories, and reenacted scenes follow the often surprising old-timers’ recollections, like Royce sketching engine designs in the sand. Voices from sound archives include that of R. J. Mitchell, designer of the Spitfire.

In preparing the programme, “Horizon” tapped such enthusiasm from Royce enthusiasts that the production team discovered a store of long-lost letters and sketches by Royce, and was able to use 21 hand-picked Rolls-Royce cars for a single shot.

Working in the places where Royce himself worked, often with the materials he used, the cast and produc-

tion team hope that they have captured the spirit of their original, whose story has become part of the history of engineering, and a legend in its own right.