Charles Rolls Statue

I rather like this statue of the aviator and pioneering motorist, Charles Rolls. It depicts him standing in his flying uniform, holding a model of the Wright Biplane.
His ancestral home was in Monmouth (although he was born in London) and his brother was mayor here.
Rolls met Henry Royce in 1904 and they formed the famous Rolls-​Royce company. It was later that Rolls became interested in aviation and began in hot air balloons launched from the Monmouth gasworks! In time he learnt to fly aeroplanes and, in 1910, was the first person to cross the English Channel non-​stop in both directions.
Sadly, he died the same year at the age of 32 when the tail of his Wright Biplane broke off in mid air. As a result, he was the first British person to lose his life in an aircraft accident.
This statue was erected the following year. The inscription reads:
Erected by public subscription
To the memory of
The honourable Charles Stewart Rolls
Third son of Lord and Lady Llangattock
As a tribute of admiration
For his great achievements
In both scientific and practical
Motoring and aviation
And the first to fly across the channel
From England to France
And back without landing.
He lost his life
By the wrecking of his areroplane
At Bournemouth July 12 1910
His death caused world-​wide regret
And deep national sorrow.
This statue was unveiled on Oct 19 1911
by Colonel the Right Honble Lord Raglan CB