GB-FR - Passion Palaces

focus
by Olivier-Vincent MARECHAL
spirit of extasy
The secret of the Flying lady
Le secret de la Flying Lady
SHE HAS ADORNED THE WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS AUTOMOBILES SINCE 1911.
A SYMBOL OF LUXURY AND ELEGANCE, THE FLYING LADY IS ABOVE ALL A SURREPTITIOUS
IMMORTALISATION OF A LOVE KEPT SECRET.
The story begins at the Automobile Club of London (RAC presently) where
Eleanor Thornton, the daughter of an Australian engineer, was employed.
Rubbing shoulders with the automotive pioneers of the day, it was here that she
would first meet John Scott, the future Baron
Montagu of Beaulieu. Scott, the founder and
editor of The Car Illustrated, was a key figure in
those circles and had even been credited with
introducing King Edward VII to the automobile.
Although it was love at first sight Scott was married
to Lady Cecil Kerr, and as an honourable
individual chose to turn a deaf ear to the nascent
emotions. Yet on realising that the feelings were
in fact mutual, he set aside his scruples and
gave free rein to his passions. So as to have the
22-year-old Thornton by his side at all times
Scott, 36, employed her as his assistant at the
magazine. The pair succeeded in living their
shared passion to the full, yet by being extremely
cautious and very discreet, managed to keep the affair completely secret.
Only their closest circle of friends were privy to their relationship including artist,
sculptor, and The Car Illustrated colleague Charles Sykes. Lord Montagu asked
Sykes to create a hood ornament for his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
Tout commence à l’Automobile Club (maintenant RAC) de Londres où travaille
Eleanor Thornton, la fille d’un ingénieur australien. Elle y côtoie tous les pionniers
de l’automobile et c’est là que John Scott, le futur Baron Montagu de Beaulieu
la croise pour la première fois. Le coup de foudre
est immédiat. Scott est une des figures de ce
milieu automobile qui balbutie encore. On lui
attribue l’initiation à l’automobile du roi Edward VII
et il est le créateur et éditeur de la revue
“Car Illustrated”. Homme d’honneur, John Scott,
marié à Lady Cecil Kerr décide tout d’abord
de rester sourd à ses sentiments. Mais lorsqu’il
se rend compte que cet amour fou est partagé,
il jette au loin ses scrupules et décide de laisser
parler la passion. Pour qu’elle soit tous les jours
à ses côtés, John Scott, 36 ans engage Eleanor
Thornton, 22 ans, comme assistante à Car
Illustrated. S’en suit une passion de chaque
instant qui reste toutefois totalement secrète, les
amants étant d’une extrême prudence et d’une très grande discrétion. Seul le
cercle de leurs amis très proches est au courant. Le sculpteur et dessinateur
Charles Sykes, qui travaille également à Car Illustrated, en fait partie.
ELLE ORNE LES CALANDRES LES PLUS PRESTIGIEUSES DU MONDE DEPUIS 1911.
SYMBOLE DU LUXE ET DE L’ÉLÉGANCE, LA “FLYING LADY”
IMMORTALISE AVANT TOUT UN AMOUR SECRET.
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