1929 Rolls-Royce 20hp & Eccles caravan gift to Lord Baden-Powell at Classic Motor Show 2022

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs is delighted to announce it will display at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show with discovery+ the 1929 Rolls-Royce and Eccles caravan presented to Lord Baden-Powell.

Prior to the Arrowe Park Jamboree, held on The Wirral; Christian Holm, the President of the Danish Boy Scout Association wrote to all the Scout organisations that were to be present at the jamboree and suggested that each Scout should donate a penny or the equivalent in their own currency to enable the movement to purchase a gift for Lord Baden-Powell to celebrate 21 years of Scouting.

Lady Baden-Powell was asked for gift ideas and Baden-Powell’s response was a pair of braces to hold up his trousers, however, the funds raised were significant leading to the purchase of the Rolls-Royce and caravan. In receiving the gift Baden-Powell said “[a new car] will enable me to visit more Scouts than I have in the past and I am mighty grateful for it.”

Baden-Powell’s children used to name his cars and the Rolls-Royce became ‘Jam Roll’ from jamboree and Rolls-Royce. Jam Roll is a 20 horse-power model, chassis number GVO-40, it was one of the last 20hp chassis to be made. The car was fitted with a custom made ‘D’ back limousine body made by Page and Hunt. Jam Roll had a custom-designed mascot that incorporates the Scout arrowhead and Scout motto “Be Prepared”. Between 1929 and the late 1930’s, Jam Roll appeared at many Scouting events.

The Rolls-Royce and Eccles caravan will also be the focal point for Childline® which is the Federation’s charity partner. It costs £30,000 to run the Childline® operation for 24-hours with their undoubted support of children and young people. In the first year of our partnership, historic vehicle enthusiasts donated £40,000 and that resulted in the celebration of ‘One Unforgettable Day’ on the opening day of last year’s Show.

In the past year, enthusiasts have donated £47,000 to Childline® and again, on Friday 11 November, the opening day of the Show . . . the Federation will with all historic vehicle enthusiasts fund Childline® operations for the whole day.

The Rolls-Royce will be decorated in a balloon arch and accompanied by a monitor showing video from our visit to the counselling room at NSPCC headquarters in east London a couple of months’ ago. Visitors will also be able to wear Virtual Reality Goggles so they can experience the Childline® counselling room at the show.

Four types of Drive It Day and Ride It Day plates will be available to purchase at the Show in preparation for Drive It Day and Ride It Day to be held on Sunday, 23 April 2023.