Rolls-Royce: Hives’ Turbulent Barons (Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Historical Series #20), 1992, 1992

Document Type: Book (Historical Study).

Purpose: Informational.

Authority: Author Expertise.

Series: Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Historical Series #20.

NB: The Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust and the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation are closely related. From "Rolls-Royce: The Pursuit of Excellence" (1984): "Both organisations share the history of the early days and work closely in harmony. This Historical Series of books was started by the Trust and it is intended that a series shall follow, produced by both organisations in the same format, thus building up an embracing library of true Rolls-Royce history."

Scope: Historical study of the Rolls-Royce company, written by Alec Harvey-Bailey. Harvey-Bailey is a 42 year veteran of Rolls-Royce who was Executive Vice-President of Rolls-Royce Aero Engines from 1971-1975. He retired in 1981.

Contents (from the Introduction): "In recent years a number of articles have been published in the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club Bulletin dealing with some of the personalities who contributed to the development of the Company. The majority had close contacts with Sir Henry Royce, who was Engineer in Chief until his death in 1933. The appointment of Ernest Hives (Hs), later Lord Hives, as Director and General Works Manager in 1937, gave the Company a new focal point and his executives were happy to give him their undivided loyalty.

They were an active and competitive group. The description "Turbulent Barons' is perhaps apt, being first used in 'The Merlin in Perspective' articles deal with more specialised subjects, 'People of the "R" Engine' and Alan Swinden's 'Some Derby Testers' , a word picture of individuals in the experimental Department of the pre-war Chassis Division.

It is hoped that this book will add to published Company history in conjunction with 'Hives - The Quiet Tiger' and 'The Sons of Martha'. A more technical book, 'Rolls-Royce Piston Engines - A Designer Remembers', by Arthur Rubbra, in which his personality comes through as if he was speaking to the reader, is an invaluable contribution."