teamtickleguy
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Edward John Barrington Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu passed away on August 31st aged 88.
Lord Montagu is notable for several things which I'll mention below, but he is mostly known these days for his significant contribution to the historic vehicle movement - preserving, collecting and competing with all sorts of historic transport.
After inheriting his Father's extensive estate at Beaulieu (pronounced Bew-lee) in Hampshire, England, comprising a stately home and abbey he realised that the expense of running this estate was simply not viable, so he eventually formed and expanded the National Motor Museum and opened the grounds to the public, something which would prove influential over time and would lead to other historic estates following suit and the formation of the Historic Houses Trust.
Over the years he was active with countless societies of motoring, tourism and architecture. He is also credited with inventing 'Autojumble'!
Lord Montagu was a Conservative MP, who became infamous in the early-mid 1950s for receiving a 12 month prison sentence for offenses relating to homosexuality, which at the time was illegal. There was considerable backlash against the prosecution and this lead to the formation of the Wolfenden Committee, which recommended and eventually achieved the decriminalisation of homosexual acts between consenting adults in private.
He was also a pioneer of the music festival movement, founding a series of Jazz festivals which attracted big names such as John Dankworth and Cleo Laine.
The National Motor Museum is now managed by his son - it's well worth a visit and has something to interest everyone.
I have fond personal memories of the museum, as for one of my Birthday's as a young boy I wrote to them and asked if I could have a ride in a number of their cars - I was utterly overwhelmed to receive a reply, several gifts and an offer to take part in their daily procession of vintage cars, where I was able to ride in several cars including a Vauxhall Prince Henry, and a stunning Auburn Speedster.
More info can be found on the official website here, from which I was able to confirm and further my knowledge of Lord Montagu:
http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/news/lord-montagu-of-beaulieu-1926-2015/
Here is a photo of Lord Montagu at the wheel of one of his collection, a 1903 De Dietrich, which I saw at the start of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in 2005
Lord Montagu is notable for several things which I'll mention below, but he is mostly known these days for his significant contribution to the historic vehicle movement - preserving, collecting and competing with all sorts of historic transport.
After inheriting his Father's extensive estate at Beaulieu (pronounced Bew-lee) in Hampshire, England, comprising a stately home and abbey he realised that the expense of running this estate was simply not viable, so he eventually formed and expanded the National Motor Museum and opened the grounds to the public, something which would prove influential over time and would lead to other historic estates following suit and the formation of the Historic Houses Trust.
Over the years he was active with countless societies of motoring, tourism and architecture. He is also credited with inventing 'Autojumble'!
Lord Montagu was a Conservative MP, who became infamous in the early-mid 1950s for receiving a 12 month prison sentence for offenses relating to homosexuality, which at the time was illegal. There was considerable backlash against the prosecution and this lead to the formation of the Wolfenden Committee, which recommended and eventually achieved the decriminalisation of homosexual acts between consenting adults in private.
He was also a pioneer of the music festival movement, founding a series of Jazz festivals which attracted big names such as John Dankworth and Cleo Laine.
The National Motor Museum is now managed by his son - it's well worth a visit and has something to interest everyone.
I have fond personal memories of the museum, as for one of my Birthday's as a young boy I wrote to them and asked if I could have a ride in a number of their cars - I was utterly overwhelmed to receive a reply, several gifts and an offer to take part in their daily procession of vintage cars, where I was able to ride in several cars including a Vauxhall Prince Henry, and a stunning Auburn Speedster.
More info can be found on the official website here, from which I was able to confirm and further my knowledge of Lord Montagu:
http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/news/lord-montagu-of-beaulieu-1926-2015/
Here is a photo of Lord Montagu at the wheel of one of his collection, a 1903 De Dietrich, which I saw at the start of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in 2005
