MONMOUTH Museum has launched an exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Charles Rolls, the co-founder of Rolls-Royce, pioneer motorist and aviator.

The exhibition, which opened on Saturday, runs until October and was made possible through the support of Rolls Royce plc.

The exhibition title is Rolls' response when asked whether he was putting his life at risk through his adventurous lifestyle: "So, why not!"

Based upon the Monmouth Museum collections of Rolls family material, the exhibition shows his background as youngest son of a wealthy Victorian land-owning family and his close involvement with the early days of motoring and flying.

His death in 1910 at the controls of his aeroplane, the first British casualty of aeroplane flight, followed soon after he made the first non-stop, two-way crossing of the English Channel by aeroplane, and six years after he teamed up with Henry Royce to develop and sell the most famous cars in the world.

Cllr Giles Howard, Monmouthshire cabinet member for community services, said: "I am delighted that Monmouth museum is able to mount this major exhibition.

"Charles Rolls is one of Monmouthshire's most famous sons, so it is wonderful that we are able to mark the centenary of his untimely death in this way." 

A programme of museum educational activities will be running throughout the duration of the exhibition. They are designed to meet the needs of schools, families and individuals of all ages.