Elvis’s Cadillac Is In The Building! - Beaulieu National Motor Museum

Elvis's Cadillac

Lady Montagu with Cadillac Seville

The latest exhibit to go on display in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is the 1977 Cadillac Seville purchased and driven by the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley. The Cadillac was purchased by Elvis in October 1976 for his own use and he chose the burgundy and silver colour scheme himself. The car is in original condition and still has the CB radio installed that Elvis used to communicate with the kitchen at Graceland and to the guard house outside Graceland, to open the gates.

One of the first people to see the car at Beaulieu was Lady Fiona Montagu, wife of the museum’s founder, Lord Montagu. Lady Montagu has been a life-long fan of the King and posed for a picture beside the car in her own version of Elvis’s famous Las Vegas white jumpsuit. Lady Montagu said: “I am a huge fan and had the costume made to wear at an Elvis themed fund raising evening we held in the museum last year in support of our Beaulieu education charity, the Countryside Education Trust.”

The Cadillac Seville V8 Automatic was manufactured by General Motors and the body custom built by Fisher for Cadillac. Its features include electronic windows and mirrors and a grey interior with wood grain accents on the dashboard, doors and steering wheel.

Previously auctioned in Las Vegas in 1994 and sold for $101,500 to a private collector, it again came up for sale in August when Graceland held its first ever auction. The auction coincided with Elvis Week at Graceland, which commemorates the legend's death on August 16th, 1977. All the items in the auction were offered from third-party collectors. Among the items were rare and unique artefacts from the collection of Greg Page, founding member of Australian children’s music group, The Wiggles, and one of the world’s biggest and most well-known Elvis Presley collectors. Page’s items included Elvis’s 1977 Cadillac Seville.

The car was purchased at the auction for $81,250 by Steve Horn as a present for his wife Suzannah. Steve and Suzannah who are great Elvis fans, run Europe’s Tribute to Elvis, an annual Europe tribute artist contest held in Blackpool with the winner taking part in the contest finals in Memphis. Explaining their decision to offer the car for display at Beaulieu, Steve said: “We wanted to give all of Elvis’s UK fans an opportunity to see his car and Beaulieu is the perfect location. We are delighted they could find a space for it.”

Other highlights of the Graceland auction included Presley's first-known signature – on a Tupelo, Mississippi, school library card – a handwritten set list from 1969 and jewellery, like the beloved lion's head pendant he wore while meeting President Richard Nixon.

The Cadillac was the last car Elvis purchased for his personal use and it was driven by him on the day prior to his death. It is believed that Elvis purchased more than 200 Cadillacs in his life; for himself, friends, family and even strangers. After his death it was gifted by his father, Vernon, to Elvis’s girlfriend, Ginger Alden.

The car is now on display in the National Motor Museum and can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, www.beaulieu.co.uk.

Caravans And Charabancs – Leisure Motoring After The First World War – Saturday 15 November 2014

A 1922 Piggott caravan with an Armstrong Siddeley

Day trippers on board a charabanc on Southsea promenade

On Saturday 15th November, transport historian and member of the National Motor Museum Trust’s Advisory Council, Richard Peskett, and Curator of The Caravan Club Collection, Angela Willis, will host a special evening exploring the growth in leisure motoring after the First World War.

The evening will form part of the NMMT’s Heritage Lottery Funded project Caravans & Charabancs – Leisure Motoring after the First World War. Using a wealth of material from the NMMT and Caravan Club Collections, Caravans and Charabancs will explore how social and technological developments before and during the First World War, coupled with a post-war influx of surplus materials, led to a boom in leisure motoring in the decades after the conflict. Richard and Angela will tell the fascinating stories behind many previously unseen photographs, which chart the increasing demand in charabanc outings and caravan holidays amongst the British war-weary.

The evening, starting at 7.30pm, will be held in the Lecture Theatre of the National Motor Museum Collections’ Centre. A pay bar is available for the purchase of beers, wines, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Before, the Museum will open from 6.00pm for a private viewing at no extra charge.

Tickets are £10 (with all profits going to the National Motor Museum Trust) and are available by contacting Theresa Browning on 01590 614792, email: friends@beaulieu.co.uk

Creative Fun at the National Motor Museum

Summer Workshop

Summer Workshop

This August, visitors to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, can take part in a range of fun and creative summer activities inspired by the museum’s First World War commemorative project, Caravans & Charabancs – Leisure Motoring after the First World War.

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and sponsored by the Shell Art Collection, The Caravan Club and Meccano, the sessions will take place in the museum on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 – 28 August, 12.00 – 4.00pm.

Young visitors will discover the impact of this devastating conflict and how it changed the face of leisure motoring in the next decade. Activities include building model charabancs - an early form of motor coach - and caravans from recycled materials and Meccano. Participants will follow in the footsteps of post-war manufacturers who built vehicles and trailers from unwanted parts left over from the battlefield. Families can also explore the Shell Art Collection’s ‘Visit Britain’ series of artworks, designing their own poster collages featuring popular day trip destinations of post First World War Britain.

The activities are included in the price of an entrance ticket to Beaulieu, adult £21, senior £19.50, child (5-12) £10.50 and youth (13-17) £12.50 or £55 for a family ticket (2 adults + 3 children/youths or 1 adult + 4 children/youths).

No booking is required, just drop in and join in the exciting sessions. Visit www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/Summer_Activities for more details.

Success For Woburn Abbey And Gardens At National Tourism Awards

Receiving the award

Woburn Abbey and Gardens won a major award at the National Coach Tourism Awards 2014 on the 15th May.

The awards, held at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, was organised by trade magazine Coach Monthly and recognises excellence and innovation across coach tour operators, tourist destinations and attractions, and industry suppliers. Woburn Abbey and Gardens won the award for “Coach Friendly Visitor Attraction of the Year”.  
    
In giving Woburn Abbey and Gardens the award, the judges said "Woburn Abbey’s comprehensive approach to providing an excellent service to tour planners, the appointment of a dedicated groups co-ordinator, free coach parking, and a clear and easy-to-use groups section on the website stood out in a sector where competition to attract groups is strong." The judges also commented on Woburn Abbey’s offer to arrange out-of-hours experiences, and the free entry and generous £10 refreshment voucher for drivers.

Lisa Weaver, Groups Co-ordinator, and Stephen Manion, Operations Manager, collected the award in front of more than 400 tourism industry professionals. The awards presentation was hosted by the editor of Coach Monthly magazine, Stuart Render, and ex EastEnders actress and television presenter Brooke Kinsella MBE.

“The National Coach Tourism Awards is the only national awards scheme to focus specifically on the coach tourism community,” says Stuart Render. “This is therefore a well-deserved and a significant achievement. Our winners are at the forefront in delivering excellence across all sectors of the industry, helping to raise the quality of customer service and quality across coach operators, destinations, visitor attractions and tourism industry suppliers.”

Commenting on the award, Stephen Manion said: "It has been an incredible month for the Woburn Estate with this award coming soon after success for The Woburn Hotel at the MK Food and Leisure Awards. It is a credit to everyone who works here and the hard work that everyone puts in to provide the highest quality experience for our visitors."

For further information on group bookings visit www.woburnabbey.co.uk or call Woburn Abbey and Gardens on 01525 290333.

National Motor Museum Workshop takes on new Trainee

On 1st April the National Motor Museum Restoration Workshop at Beaulieu welcomed a new trainee – the first in several years.

Tim Edgerton with 350hp Sunbeam

Tim Edgerton, 23, is not new to Beaulieu having worked both in Visitor Services and Living History as well as helping out at Beaulieu events. Tim is a hardworking and enthusiastic young man who has already impressed everyone with his proactive attitude and obvious commitment to Beaulieu.

The traineeship has been made possible by the generosity of individual members of the Beaulieu One Hundred together with match funding from Beaulieu Enterprises.  The apprenticeship will last four years and will enable the many years of specialist experience built up by the workshop team to be passed on to the next generation.

Chief Engineer, Doug Hill, said “When you add my years at Beaulieu with those of the Workshop team, we have over one hundred years of experience. We are looking forward to bringing in new blood so we can pass on our legacy of skills and knowledge, unique to Beaulieu and to our vehicle collection.”

Tim is keen to start, so keen he has already built up many hours in the workshop as a volunteer and is looking forward to building his career at the museum. He said “I don’t see myself leaving Beaulieu, I enjoy working here too much.”

Win A Peugeot Rcz For £1 In The National Motor Museum Trust Raffle Draw

This year’s star prize in the 2014 National Motor Museum Trust Raffle Draw is a stunning Peugeot RCZ GT Sports Coupé in Bianca White, generously supplied by Peugeot UK.

This stylish two-door coupé, characterised by its ‘double-bubble’ roofline and aluminium roof arches, boasts a 1.6L petrol engine, able to reach 62mph in 8.3 seconds, high quality sports interior and spacious rear seating. The Peugeot RCZ range starts at £21,600.

Peugeot RCZ GT Sports Coupe

Andrew Didlick, Director of Communications at Peugeot Motor Company, said: “Peugeot is delighted to be supporting the 2014 National Motor Museum Trust Raffle Draw. The RCZ is a fantastic draw in itself and we wish the Museum the very best of luck in all of its 2014 fundraising activities. The RCZ will certainly attract attention as it sits proudly amongst such a fantastic collection of historic automobiles.”

Other prizes on offer include an alternative star prize of £10,000 cash, and runner-up prizes including a seat on the 2015 London to Brighton Run with one night’s accommodation in London and a Garmin Sat-Nav.

Tickets cost just £1 each and can be bought in person from the Information Desk inside the National Motor Museum*. They can also be purchased on application by contacting Theresa Browning by email at theresa.browning@beaulieu.co.uk

The National Motor Museum Trust Raffle Draw takes place annually, with the winning ticket numbers announced in November each year. All monies raised from the sale of tickets go towards furthering the work of the National Motor Museum Trust.

In addition to its world-famous vehicle collection, the National Motor Museum charitable trust is also home to one of the largest historical motoring archives, which includes film, photographs, books and thousands of motoring-related artefacts.

Chief Executive of the Trust, Russell Bowman, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer such a fantastic star prize in our raffle. We would like to thank Peugeot UK for their support of our fundraising activities and we look forward to presenting this wonderful car to the lucky winner following the raffle draw in November. Last year’s draw raised £36,500 and with this great car on offer, we hope that this year will be even more successful.”

Peugeot UK has also sponsored the Current Car Plinth in the Setting the Scene display in the museum’s entrance hall, with a new Peugeot 308.

If any organisations or businesses wish to support the work of the National Motor Museum Trust, please contact Heather Reid on 01590 614634.

Who is your Motocycling Icon?

Mike Hailwood

Stanley Woods

Charley Boorman

A wall featuring your top 20 icons of the motorcycling world will take centre stage in a new for 2014 display, The Motorcycle Story, at the National Motor Museum.

A shortlist of 48 motorcycling icons has been drawn up in consultation with experts from the National Motor Museum Trust Advisory Council and a number of motorcycling focus groups. It includes riders from all eras and genres of motorcycling from early Isle of Man TT winners such as Stanley Woods, to modern world champions Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi and celebrity riders Steve McQueen and Charley Boorman.

Now you have an opportunity to vote for your top three from the shortlist of riders www.motorcyclingicons.co.uk/contenders/ past and present, and have your say in identifying the most influential motorcyclists of all time.

The poll will be open until midnight on the 22nd April 2014, with everyone taking part entered into a draw to win fantastic prizes including a top prize of a three day premium reserved family ticket to this year’s British MotoGP at Silverstone.

The top 20 icons, as voted by you, will be announced at the Motorcycling Icons Wall unveiling, at the official opening of The Motorcycle Story display on the 14th May.

Who are your top three motorcycling icons?  Have we missed someone from the contender list? Tell us on www.motorcyclingicons.co.uk/have-we-missed-someone-from-the-contender-list/. 

If you are attending the MCN London Motorcycle Show at Excel from the 14th-16th February, visit us on the Mike Hailwood Tribute stand to vote and talk about your choices.

The Motorcycle Story opening on the 14th May immerses the visitor in a journey through motorcycling history with machines displayed in their historical and cultural context, tying technological developments to changing trends in fashion, style and sport. Supporting artefacts include clothing worn and trophies won by sporting greats in displays which cover varied racing disciplines, road safety and British ‘Mods’ and ‘Rockers’ youth culture of the 50s and 60s.

www.beaulieu.co.uk

Sunbeam 350HP roars back to life at Beaulieu

Don Wales

Sunbeam 350hp with Malcolm Campbell Pendine Sands

Sunbeam 350 hp M Campbell at speed, Pendine small

Earlier today, Wednesday 29th January, Sir Malcolm Campbell’s record breaking 350hp Sunbeam was fired up, the first time it has been heard in public in over 50 years. Following a complete mechanical rebuild by the National Motor Museum’s workshop team, the handle was swung, to bring the engine back to life – a sound which is described as being akin to the roar of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.

The car was the brainchild of Sunbeam’s chief engineer and racing team manager, Louis Coatalen, and was constructed at the company’s works in Wolverhampton during 1919 and early 1920. For a period following WWl, the world of motor racing was enthralled by a breed of racing cars powered by huge aircraft engines and the 350hp Sunbeam is one of the most famous of this group of aero-engined giants. Power came from an 18.322 litre V12 modified Manitou Arab aero engine, a type used on naval seaplanes.

The Sunbeam, renamed Blue Bird by Campbell, holds three world land speed records, the first achieved by Kenelm Lee Guinness at Brooklands in 1922 with a speed of 133.75mph. Campbell then purchased the car, had it painted in his distinctive colour scheme and in September 1924 achieved a new record speed of 146.16mph at Pendine in South Wales, raising it the following year to 150.76mph.

Campbell sold the car soon after; it then passed through a number of owners and is recorded as being driven by band leader, Billy Cotton, at the Southport Speed Trials in 1936. For a time the car’s location was unknown, then in 1942 it was unearthed in Lancashire by Harold Pratley who bought it in 1944. He loaned it to Rootes Ltd (successors to the Sunbeam Company), who undertook a cosmetic restoration for promotional purposes.

In 1957 the Sunbeam was purchased by Lord Montagu, restored to working order and put on display in the Montagu Motor Museum. When not on display, it was taken to various venues in the UK and Europe and in 1960 accompanied Lord Montagu as a static display on his Motoring Thro’ the Years lecture tour of South Africa. Its last outing was at the British Automobile Racing Club Festival of Motoring at Goodwood on the 14th July 1962 when Lord Montagu took it on a 3-lap demonstration run and Donald Campbell did a lap d’Honneur. In 1972 it moved into the newly created National Motor Museum where it has been on permanent display ever since.

During a test fire-up in 1993 to assess the car’s condition, disaster struck when a blocked oil way in the engine caused it to seize and ‘throw a rod’. For several years after that, the car was on display in the museum with a very visible hole in its engine where the piston and con-rod had exited.

In 1987 the car was repainted and the wheels rebuilt. Around 2007, the workshop team started looking at the car with a view to repairing the engine and an initial strip-out allowed them to assess the damage sustained in the 1993 start-up. Examination showed that the con rod had come through the side of the crank case, scoring the crank shaft and damaging three pistons and valves.

The Sunbeam Talbot Darracq Register was approached to assist in finding parts, specialist services and skills to undertake the rebuild. A restoration of this size is a very time consuming process, approximately 2,000 hours on this project, so the museum workshop relied heavily on the use of volunteers to do the work, directed by the workshop’s Senior Engineer, Ian Stanfield, and also on generous donations by specialist suppliers.

As part of the engine rebuild, the crank case metal was stitched, the crank shaft re-ground and polished and the damaged cylinder bore re-lined.  Damaged con rods, pistons, valves, springs, gudgeon pins and white metal bearings were replaced with new and the main bearing re-metalled and line-bored. The rear axle was taken apart and cleaned and the chassis and running gear renovated.

Doug Hill, the National Motor Museum’s Chief Engineer said: “This project has been a long-running labour of love for the whole team and such has been their passion that many have dedicated hours of their own time to get the job done. There is huge satisfaction in seeing it finally completed.

“However, there is more that we still want to do and our next objective is to research the design of the original gearbox – all original drawings and records were lost when the Sunbeam factory was bombed during WWll - so that we can restore the car to the full 1920s specification, as driven to two world land speed records by Sir Malcolm Campbell at Pendine Sands in 1924 and 1925.”

Andrea Bishop, Director of Collections said: “To know the 350hp Sunbeam is whole again, and to hear its tremendous roar after all those years of silence, is absolutely thrilling. I wish Doug and his team well, in realising their aspirations to undertake the next phase of work to recreate the gearbox.”

The Sunbeam will be fired up again at the Retromobile classic car show in Paris (5th – 9th February) before returning to the National Motor Museum to take its place in a new display, For Britain & For The Hell Of It – the story of British land speed records, opening for Easter 2014. www.beaulieu.co.uk

Beaulieu's Hunt For Car Stars of TV and Film

Mr Bean's Mini

The 'flying' Ford Anglia from 'Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets'

Reliant Regal van from Only Fools and Horses

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is on a mission searching for new vehicles to join its popular On Screen Cars exhibition. If you own or know of a vehicle that has starred in a television programme or film and you would like to see it displayed alongside other car stars in the exhibition, then Beaulieu wants to hear from you!

All vehicles which have been ‘on screen’ are welcome to be put forward for consideration, from TV cop cars, to children’s favourites. Any new vehicles added to the exhibition will be joining a famous cast of vehicles from a number of different television shows and films.
The family of Harry Potter star, Rupert Grint, have loaned the Harry Potter ‘flying’ Ford Anglia for the display, which was used during the making of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.In the film, the enchanted flying car is stolen a number of times by Ron Weasley, on one occasion to rescue his friend Harry Potter from the Dursleys’ house, and on another to return to Hogwarts after the gate to Platform 9¾ is sealed by house elf Dobby.

In real life, the car’s history has been almost as exciting! In 2005 the car was stolen, but was later recovered after being dumped by the thieves, probably due to the media interest surrounding it. The Grint family bought it after this incident and loaned it to Beaulieu for display.

Sharing the spotlight with the Anglia is TV favourite, Mr Bean’s lime green mini. This particular car was used in the character's third series and made its first television appearance on 1st January 1991.

Another TV favourite on display is Del Boy’s beloved Trotter Van. Possibly the nation's most famous three-wheel vehicle, this Regal van (mistakenly referred to as a Robin) featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the sole transport for the Trotter family of Del, Rodney, Grandad and Uncle Albert, until Del Boy later went ‘upmarket’ and purchased a Capri Ghia.

To put a vehicle forward for consideration, please contact the PR Department, either by emailing pr@beaulieu.co.uk or calling 01590 614603.

On Screen Cars can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which also includes the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens. Visit www.beaulieu.co.ukfor further information.

Simply Classics - Sunday 25th August

Simply Classics - Jaguar XK140

For a quintessentially English day out with your classic car, nothing can beat Beaulieu’s Simply Classics on Sunday 25th August. This popular event is now in its third year and will see all manner of pre-1988 vehicles enter the picturesque Beaulieu parkland to create a stunning classic car display.

Classic car owners and their passengers can drive through the beautiful New Forest, straight into the grounds of the National Motor Museum to display their car alongside other classics and enjoy a wonderful day out at Beaulieu too.

Take a look around the National Motor Museum’s stunning collection of over 250 vehicles, which includes a stunning selection of vintage Rolls-Royces, a number of early classic racing cars and a wide range of classic luxury vehicles including a beautiful cream 1935 Auburn 851.

In BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles, see some of the most iconic Bond vehicles, including a classic Aston Martin DB5 from GOLDENEYE – a car which is famed for its association with the James Bond brand.

Enter World of Top Gear to see the actual vehicles used by presenters Clarkson, Hammond and May in some of their most adventurous challenges over the years, including the Hindustan taxi from the latest series to air, which was declared the world’s best taxi after winning a world taxi shootout.

Take a stroll to Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538, and enjoy the peace and quiet in the cloister of 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.

During the afternoon, participating vehicles will drive through the parkland along the Demonstration Run, giving visitors the opportunity to see and hear these beautiful motors on the move.

Visitors to Beaulieu will be asked to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The owner of the vehicle with the most votes will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in the afternoon presentation ceremony.

Classic car owners are also invited to enter their vehicle into the Concours competition. To take part, simply download, complete and return the application form (available at www.beaulieuevents.co.uk ) by Friday 16th August.

For those people participating in the event with a classic car, ticket prices are Adult £10 and Child £5. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on telephone line 01590 612888. All other visitors to the event should enter via the Main Entrance Hall at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your classic car is from 9.30am when catering will be available. The event opens to the public at 10am.

Visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk for more information or telephone 01590 612345.

Join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #simplyclassics or check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/nationalmotormuseum

Simply Porsche

On Sunday 23rd June, Beaulieu will be welcoming Porsches of every shape and size into the grounds of the National Motor Museum for a brand new event, Simply Porsche. A must for any Porsche enthusiast, this fantastic rally is open to all Porsche owners.

Porsches of all ages and models are eligible to join the display of this iconic marque in the Beaulieu parkland.

This is a great opportunity to view hundreds of Porsches, meet up with other like-minded enthusiasts, and enjoy a great day out at the Beaulieu attraction. See over 250 vehicles on show in the National Motor Museum, from F1 racers to Land Speed Record Breakers and don’t miss BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles. The collection includes the Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, a QUANTUM OF SOLACE Aston Martin DBS stunt car and two Honda CRF250R motorcycles and a Land Rover Defender 110 from the latest Bond film to be released, SKYFALL.

Enter World of Top Gear to see genuine vehicles created by presenters Jeremy, Richard and James in their challenges on the BBC television show, including Richard and Jeremy’s “Grannymobile” and the P45 micro car driven by Jeremy through a shopping centre and the British Library on the latest series.

You can also enjoy strolling through the beautifully-kept gardens to Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13th Century Beaulieu Abbey, or you can explore the grounds by hopping onboard the high-level Monorail or open-topped veteran London bus.

As with all Simply Rallies, visitors to Beaulieu on the day of the event will be invited to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The owner of the winning car will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in an afternoon presentation ceremony and will be given the opportunity to lead a cavalcade of Porsches through the attraction.

For entrants arriving in a Porsche and joining the event on the Beaulieu parkland, entry prices are adult £10 and child £5. Please telephone 01590 612888 or visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk to book advance tickets. For all Porsche-related trade stand enquiries, telephone 01590 614614. All other visitors should enter Beaulieu via the main Reception at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your Porsche is from 9.30am with catering available.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Simply Porsche is one of the latest additions to Beaulieu’s rapidly growing calendar of Simply events, which has expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering a range of makes and models.

For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #simplyporsche

Top Visitor Attraction Acknowledges Volunteers

House Steward

National Volunteer Week, 1 – 7 June, recognises the hard work and dedication of volunteers across the country, including an army of volunteers working at Harewood House, visitor attraction and educational charitable Trust in Leeds.

The volunteers are the life-blood of Harewood, generously giving their time to support the work that Harewood Trust does and sharing their passion and interest for Harewood. Many of the team of volunteers have worked at Harewood for a number of years, acquiring anecdotes and tales as if the House were their own.  Harewood is an educational charitable Trust that relies entirely on its own endeavours to meet its funding needs and volunteers make a significant contribution in enabling the Trust to deliver a first class service to its visitors. There are endless volunteer opportunities at Harewood, ranging from Room Stewards, Shuttle Drivers, Gardeners, Bird Garden Rangers to Bookshop Helpers. In return, volunteers receive free admission to Harewood House and grounds, and help to preserve one of Britain’s most historic treasure houses.

Chief Executive of Harewood House Mike Schafer comments:-
“The 2012 London Olympics has drawn attention to the value of volunteers; although not on the same scale, we have welcomed volunteers for over 20 years. They are an integral part of the team, providing an exceptional experience for our visitors and ensuring they enjoy their day.”
Volunteer co-ordinator Richard Brice comments:-
“Our diverse group of volunteers keeps Harewood running smoothly. They are a pleasure to work with and being new to the team myself, I’m continually surprised by their vast knowledge and enthusiasm for Harewood. We like to appreciate and recognise their hard work each day, as well as on this special week.”

Shannon Cross, University student and Room Steward explains:-
“I was lucky enough to visit many historic houses as a child and my interest grew when I studied Country Houses in GCSE History. I’ve been hooked ever since, and in fact my GCSE history teacher is now a Tour Guide in the House. Volunteering at Harewood has inspired me to further my studies at Leeds University, and I am currently earning my degree in History of Art with Museum Studies. I would definitely recommend volunteering at Harewood as it is a chance to keep this history alive, meet new friends, gain experience and confidence.”

Tracey Watkins, working mother and Senior Volunteer Gardener said:-
“I started volunteering to get some ‘me time’ away from the children. I can really recommend it for all parents, it’s very therapeutic with no clocks and no four walls. I’ve been volunteering at Harewood for 12 years now alongside my day job, and it’s turning out to be a new career plan for me. The camaraderie in the gardens is great; I’ve made a lot of friends over the years.”

To see the full range of volunteering opportunities at Harewood, visit www.harewood.org/join-the-team

Trucks Galore Attending Beaulieu’s Truckmania Sunday 26th & Monday 27th May 2013

In just a few days, on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th of the May Bank Holiday weekend, Beaulieu’s newest event, Truckmania will be rumbling into the grounds of the National Motor Museum. Lots more trucking companies and activities have now been confirmed for this fantastic family event.

Beaulieu is delighted to announce that trucking star and Twitter sensation, Mark Dixon, will be attending the event. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Mark, who has been tweeting about the show in recent weeks, and can hear him in conversation with show presenter, Kevin Harris.

A range of colourfully customised and branded trucks will be on display, including a Lewis Hamilton F1 themed truck from Sean M Taylor Transport, an Ice Truckers’ branded lorry provided by KER Transport and a number of film-branded vehicles from Dalton’s Transport, including The Hangover, Rocky and The Avengers. Saints Transport and Harris Transport will also be in attendance at the event with their own lorry transport.

Sunseeker International Ltd will be bringing a Sovereign boat belonging to Sunseeker founder, Robert Braithwaite. The boat, which Robert drove in the James Bond film, QUANTUM OF SOLACE with Daniel Craig onboard, will be displayed on a Volvo truck.
A whole range of transport vehicles will be attending the event, spanning the motoring generations. White & Co PLC will be displaying one of their oldest commercial vehicles, the dray, alongside one of their most modern, eco-friendly lorries, Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Society will be showing a selection of their stunning classic and vintage vehicles, and a fully-restored 1910 fuel tanker, complete with Anglo American Oil Company stamped brass hub covers will be on display for visitors to see, courtesy of its owner and restorer, Alan Chandler.

There will be plenty of trucking demonstrations and displays to keep families entertained. World-famous monster truck, BIGFOOT, will be performing in two live, action-packed displays each day. In the morning, this motoring leviathan will be demonstrating its power in the Beaulieu Arena, and in the afternoon, wowing visitors with some incredible stunts in the event fields including car crushing, with cars provided by vehicle recycling specialists, Silverlake Garage. Watch as truckers take part in Truck Agility, a series of skills tests designed to make even the most experienced truck drivers break out in a sweat as they manoeuvre around an obstacle course.

There will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to get involved in the trucking action too. Mums and Dads can test their strength in Tug-a-Truck, to see how far they can pull a real lorry cab and every brave person who has a go will receive an ‘I’ve pulled at Beaulieu’ badge to wear proudly. Meanwhile younger visitors can take a ride in mini trucks on Beaulieu’s Dipsticks Driving Circuit* and have a go on the fairground dodgems free of charge, plus enjoy an inflatable playground**.

Beaulieu is also pleased to welcome Mini World to Truckmania. This incredible model-sized track, complete with a wide range of remote controlled model trucks, will be recreating trucking scenarios on a small scale, from construction sites to road networks, in the Grand Marquee. Visitors can have a go at controlling one of these amazingly detailed models on a specially designed circuit.

Each day, Beaulieu’s visitors can vote for their favourite truck in the People’s Choice Awards, and each afternoon, the driver whose vehicle has received the greatest number of votes will be presented with a Beaulieu Trophy.

Truckmania can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction. See the National Motor Museum and exciting James Bond vehicle exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the beautiful gardens, plus enjoy unlimited rides on the high-level Monorail.

Beaulieu attraction admission tickets are available to buy on arrival on the day of your visit, or at a discounted rate in advance online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

For more information about Truckmania, please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #truckmania

*Maximum height restriction of 127cm (4’ 2”)
**A small extra charge applies to this activity

Simply French - Sunday 12th May

Beaulieu’s popular Simply French rally will be making a welcome return on Sunday 12th May for its second year in the National Motor Museum’s busy calendar of events, so if you are a French vehicle owner, don a beret, grab a string of onions and drive down to Beaulieu for a day of French-themed fun!

All French vehicle makes and models are welcome, from major manufacturers Renault, Peugeot and Citroen, to the lesser known Aixam and Gordini. Just drive down, display your vehicle in the grounds, and spend the day admiring other French vehicles, meeting like-minded enthusiasts and enjoying all the delights of the Beaulieu attraction.

This year’s show sponsor, Citroën, will be a welcome addition to the event, displaying a selection of its beautiful models in a bourgeois café scene set up in the parkland, complimented by traditional French music.

As with all Beaulieu’s Simply Rallies, visitors to Beaulieu on the day will be invited to vote for their favourite French vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The winning vehicle owner will be presented with a prized Beaulieu Trophy and will be given the opportunity to lead a cavalcade around the grounds of the attraction.

Visitors to the event can also enjoy all the features of the Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum and its exciting BOND IN MOTION exhibition (see if you can spot the quirky little Citroën 2CV from FOR YOUR EYES ONLY), World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House, the gardens, and unlimited rides on the high-level Monorail and open-topped bus.

For entrants arriving on the 12th May in their French vehicles and joining the event on the Beaulieu parkland, entry prices are adult £10 and child £5. Please telephone 01590 612888 or visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk to book advance tickets. For all trade stand enquiries, telephone 01590 614614. All other visitors should enter Beaulieu via the main Reception at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland in your French vehicle is from 9.30am. As France is renowned for its fine cuisine, the Brabazon Restaurant will be serving refreshments inspired by the country, including coffee and croissants.

Simply French is part of a growing calendar of Simply Rallies which has rapidly expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering many makes and models. All Simply Rallies are run and organised by Beaulieu and take place in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.

The latest additions to the Simply schedule for 2013 are Simply Porsche on 23rd June, Simply Alfa Romeo on 30th June, Simply Vauxhall on 28th July and Simply Land Rover on 11th August.

Visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk for more information.

Extended Run Announce for the Bond In Motion Exhibition at The National Motor Museum

The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu is proud to announce that BOND IN MOTION, the exclusive official exhibition of 50 original James Bond vehicles, will be continuing throughout 2013.

The exhibition, is the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world and features 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films, including some of the best loved and most iconic.

The exhibition, staged to celebrate 50 years of this enduring film franchise is brought right up to date with four vehicles from the 23rd and latest Bond film SKYFALL which premiered last month; the Land Rover Defender 110 and two Honda CRF250R motorcycles that feature in the opening sequence as well as the vehicle most recently added to the exhibition, the Aston Martin DB5.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn said: “Since its opening, BOND IN MOTION has been an outstanding success, attracting over 400,000 visitors from all over the world. This critically acclaimed exhibition has been a fantastic addition to the National Motor Museum and we are delighted to have the opportunity to extend its run and welcome even more Bond fans throughout 2013.”

BOND IN MOTION features a whole range of vehicles which have appeared in Bond films over the years including cars, boats, motorbikes, jets and many more. This collection of iconic movie vehicles includes the Phantom lll Rolls-Royce from GOLDFINGER, the Lotus Esprit S1 affectionately nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, the Bede Acrostar jet famously flown in OCTOPUSSY, the original SFX Cello Case Ski famously navigated by Timothy Dalton in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS the original villain Parahawk featured in THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH and the Aston Martin DBS from CASINO ROYALE

BOND IN MOTION will run to 5^th January 2014 and can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction.  Advance tickets, at a special rate, are available to buy online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk.

For further information on the exhibition visit www.bondinmotion.co.uk

Bond Visits Bond In Motion To Launch Bond 50 Blu-Ray Collection

Sir Roger Moore in an Aston Martin DBS at the Fox Blu-ray launch

Sir Roger Moore, who famously played 007 in the James Bond film series, visited the National Motor Museum’s BOND IN MOTION exhibition to celebrate the launch of the BOND 50 Blu-ray Collection, on sale now.

BOND 50 from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment showcases all 22 classic films on Blu-ray together for the first time, with a dossier of more than 122 hours of bonus features to mark James Bond’s  golden anniversary.

Sir Roger had an opportunity to reacquaint himself with some of the iconic vehicles from the seven Bond films in which he starred between 1973 and 1985, including the Lotus Esprit S1 submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me, the Glastron Speedboat from Live and Let Die and the Acrostar BD-5J Jet from Octopussy, although he confessed his personal favourite was the Citroen 2CV from For Your Eyes Only.

The exhibition showcases 50 of the best-loved and most iconic Bond vehicles – some never publicly displayed before – in celebration of the 50th year of the James Bond films.

Most recent additions to the exhibition include two Honda motorcycles and a Land Rover Defender 110 from the latest Bond film, Skyfall, which has its world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, London on the 23rd October.

BOND IN MOTION can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction.  Advance tickets, at a special rate, are available to buy online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk. For further information on the exhibition visit www.bondinmotion.co.uk

Simply 4X4: A Great Day Out For All 4X4 Motoring Enthusiasts! Sunday 12Th August 2012

On Sunday 12th August, join the droves of Land Rovers, Jeeps and Range Rovers heading for Beaulieu to take part in the first ever Simply 4x4 event. All 4x4 vehicles, of any age or model, are welcome, from classic Land Rovers to brand new BMW 4x4s.

Owners can display their vehicles in the parkland, take part in the event activities, and enjoy all the delights of the Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum’s exciting BOND IN MOTION exhibition, which showcases 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films as well as behind-the-scenes footage from some of the most thrilling vehicle stunt sequences.

Beaulieu has partnered with the Land Rover Experience, West Country, to give visitors to Simply 4x4 the opportunity to try Beaulieu’s very own off-road Forest Drive. Event participants can book a space at a cost of £25 per vehicle to take their own 4x4 on the 45 minute course, and can also enjoy a second drive after 3pm for a discounted rate of £15 per vehicle, when booked with the first drive. To book in advance visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk or telephone 01590 612888 and on the day visit the Information Caravan on arrival to reserve a time slot –given on a first come first serve basis.

Visitors who do not have a 4x4 but would like to try the course can book a slot in a Land Rover Experience vehicle. Land Rover Experience’s trained instructors can take you on the course for £40 to drive, or £10 for a passenger ride. Please note that to drive you must be aged over 25 and have both parts of your full UK driving license with you on the day. These spaces are very limited and can only be booked in advance by telephone on 01590 612888 when you will be allocated a specific time slot.

Please note the Forest Drive is separately charged and prices do not include the entrance fee to the event or Beaulieu attraction. The first group will leave at 10am with the final rotation leaving at 4.30pm. Terms and conditions apply. There may be some slots available on the day, but to avoid disappointment it is advisable to book in advance.

Throughout the day visitors will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite vehicle on display in the People’s Choice Awards. In the afternoon a cavalcade of the most popular vehicles will parade around the Beaulieu attraction, and the winning vehicle and runner up will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony. The winning vehicle owner will receive a coveted special 60th anniversary edition Beaulieu Trophy, with the runner up presented with a bottle of Beaulieu Bubbly.

For entrants arriving on the day in their 4x4 vehicle and participating in the event, individual ticket prices are £10 per adult and £5 per child.

Book advance tickets online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or by telephone on 01590 612888, which you can also call for information on group/club entry. For all enquiries regarding 4x4-related trade stands, telephone 01590 614614.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your 4x4 vehicle is from 9.30am with refreshments available in the Brabazon Restaurant.

All other visitors who wish to see the event, but not participate in a 4x4 vehicle should enter Beaulieu via the Main Reception from 10am at normal attraction admission prices.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum and its exciting BOND IN MOTION exhibition showcasing 50 original James Bond vehicles, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens.

Simply 4x4 is part of a growing calendar of Simply rallies which has rapidly expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering many makes and models. All Simply rallies are run and organised by Beaulieu and take place in the grounds of the National Motor Museum. For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk

This event is sponsored by specialist motor insurance broker Adrian Flux.