logo
‘Irreplaceable' 105-year-old Rolls Royce stolen in hotel heist moments before European tour

‘Irreplaceable' 105-year-old Rolls Royce stolen in hotel heist moments before European tour

Scottish Sun8 hours ago

Development of the Silver Ghost goes back to the start of the 20th century
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A RARE 105-year-old Rolls Royce valued at £300,000 was stolen from a hotel on the evening of a vintage car expedition.
The 1920 Silver Ghost was on a trailer at a hotel near Grays, Essex, on Wednesday night.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
4
The stolen 108-year-old Rolls Royce
Credit: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY
4
The "irreplaceable" car had vanished when owner Bryan Fitton went to check on it at 6am the next morning
Credit: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY
It was about to be transported to Tilbury Docks and on to Helsinki, Finland.
But the "irreplaceable" car had vanished when owner Bryan Fitton went to check on it at 6am the next morning.
The 82-year-old from Wilmslow, Cheshire, is "heartbroken" at the loss.
Essex Police is investigating and urged anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam or other footage to get in contact.
The owner is offering a £2,000 reward for the car's return.
Bryan told the Mail: "I am hoping someone can spot the car as it's so rare and help me get the trip of a lifetime back on track – hence the reward.
"The car is full of irreplaceable parts – it's an original and has even got the original Lady on the grill.
"The car has been all over the world and is an advert for British motors – it's been everywhere and it gets stolen in Essex – it's just appalling."
He spent years rebuilding the car and has driven it all around the world.
It has toured England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Austria among other nations.
However this trip was set to be Bryan's first trip to the Baltic States with his beloved car.
Development of the Silver Ghost goes back to the start of the 20th century.
Around 7874 Silver Ghosts were produced between 1907 and 1926, with American President Woodrow Wilson even owning one of the cars.
It was named the best car in the world by Autocar in 1907.
4
It was one of 25 cars due to be transported
Credit: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How the drive-thru took over Britain
How the drive-thru took over Britain

Spectator

time3 hours ago

  • Spectator

How the drive-thru took over Britain

Britain has received many things from America that we have little reason to be grateful for: Black Lives Matter, Instagram, the word 'gotten' – and the brief and unlovely period that Meghan Markle was a resident of this country. Yet one of the most enduring American imports is something that we no longer much notice: the drive-through – or 'drive-thru' – restaurant. The all-American tradition of stuffing yourself with burgers and fries while sitting in the comfort of your car is here to stay. Thanks, America There are now over 2,600 drive-thrus in Britain. A good number, of course, are McDonald's – 1080, to be exact – but such is the growing allure of the drive-thru that others are getting in on the act – not least my beloved Greggs, which has 50 such outlets. As a result, the rent for a drive-thru has soared to almost double that of a fast food outlet in some shopping centres or retail parks. In just a few decades, the drive-thru has taken over Britain. The first drive-thru establishment in our country – a McDonald's, naturally – opened in Fallowfield, Manchester in 1986. As someone who grew up with the Golden Arches representing an exciting, perpetually tempting opportunity, I remember pestering my parents to let me visit one as soon as it opened in Bristol, which it duly did in the early Nineties. I have a vague recollection that the excitement of eating a Quarter Pounder and fries and drink a milkshake in the back of the family car was offset by the slightly stale lingering smell of the deep-fat fryer and the depressing sensation, a week or two later, of finding a stray chip somewhere beneath the driver's seat. On balance, I preferred 'eating in', but the novelty has persisted. It seems that I am not alone. There is, admittedly, something rather wonderful about giving your order to an anonymous server via a speakerphone, driving the car to the next checkpoint and then having your meal handed to you, removing virtually all need for human contact. That appeal has grown, rather than diminished, over the past three decades. It isn't hard to see why, especially for families. There is something quintessentially British about a car's driver, traditionally 'dad', being harassed and pestered by their hungry family and eventually seeking solace in finding the swiftest and most time-efficient means of feeding them. The drive-thru today is fast food at its most sophisticated, not least because the old methods of shouting your order into a metal box have long been superseded by app tracking and GPS location details. Theoretically, you could begin to feel hungry five miles away from your nearest drive-thru and have your order paid for and waiting for you to collect by the time you arrive. Just as Deliveroo has taken away the difficulty and inconvenience of shopping and cooking in favour of swift home delivery, so the sophistication of the twenty-first century drive-thru is a wonder to behold. But I wonder if the rise of the drive-thru is really something to celebrate. Covid dealt a near-existential threat to the service industry, and it has barely recovered outside the big cities and tourist centres. One of its least desirable byproducts is the rise in dehumanised, no-contact interactions with those who serve us our meals, which, to this day, are often simply dumped in a bag or box outside our homes. The continued popularity of the drive-thru is only really a motorised version of this dehumanisation. Few of us would seriously believe that a visit to McDonald's – especially these days – is an opportunity to exchange witticisms with a friendly staff member, not least because the whole process is largely technology-based in store anyway. But visiting a physical establishment still offers the remnant of the personal touch, to say nothing of being able to eat off a table and sit on a chair. But a growing number of Brits seem to prefer sitting in their cars instead. Doing so is undeniably convenient. But is it truly desirable for society? I'm not convinced. The all-American tradition of stuffing yourself with burgers and fries while sitting in the comfort of your car is here to stay. Thanks, America.

Brits risk £100 fine for common driving move which actually breaks Highway Code
Brits risk £100 fine for common driving move which actually breaks Highway Code

Daily Mirror

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Brits risk £100 fine for common driving move which actually breaks Highway Code

One expert warned that as well as of any fines and points on your licence you could face, driving in this manner 'disrupts the flow of motorway traffic' and causes 'potentially dangerous overtaking' Motorists across the UK are being warned that an everyday driving habit could slap them with a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence. Experts have reminded drivers that hogging the middle lane — remaining in the central lane of a motorway without overtaking — breaks a crucial rule in the Highway Code. Despite how common the occurrence may be, Rule 264 of the Code explicitly states drivers must keep to the left-hand lane unless they are overtaking. ‌ "You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear," it reads. "If you are overtaking a number of slow-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past." ‌ The Highway Code adds: "Be aware of emergency services, traffic officers, recovery workers, and other people or vehicles stopped on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area. If you are driving in the left lane, and it is safe to do so, you should move into the adjacent lane to create more space between your vehicle and the people and stopped vehicles". READ MORE: Highway Code parking rule could see drivers fined £100 Despite these clear guidelines, middle lane hogging remains a widespread issue on British motorways. Many drivers either forget or ignore the rule, with some mistakenly believing that staying in the middle lane is harmless. However, experts warn that this behaviour can have real consequences. A spokesperson for car repair experts Bumper explained: "Not only can it earn you a £100 fine and three penalty points, but it also disrupts the natural flow of motorway traffic, causing frustration and potentially dangerous overtaking." They added that staying in the left-hand lane when not overtaking is a 'simple rule that makes a big difference to everyone's journey'. Director of camper van conversion company Wessex Vans, Damian Maginn, also warned lingering too long in the middle lane can lead to legal complications. He said: "A law introduced in 2013 means that hogging the middle lane is now considered careless driving and can even land you in trouble with the police… While the middle lane exists for overtaking slower vehicles, it's not meant to be a permanent residence, and people should get back to the left-hand side when they're no longer overtaking." ‌ The issue is particularly relevant as more drivers take to the roads during the scorching summer months for holidays and long trips. As middle lane hogging is classified as an offence, police have the authority to issue on-the-spot penalties. In more serious cases, offenders can be taken to court, where higher fines and more penalty points may be imposed. Police forces across the country have increased efforts to tackle inconsiderate driving on motorways, including tailgating, undertaking and the misuse of lanes. Careless driving is defined as when 'driving falls below the minimum standard expected of a competent and careful driver and includes driving without reasonable consideration for other road users'. Examples of careless or inconsiderate driving include overtaking on the inside, driving too close to another vehicle, running a red light by mistake, turning into the path of another vehicle and misusing lanes to gain an advantage over other road users. Experts also highlight that middle lane hogging can increase the risk of accidents by forcing other drivers to weave between lanes more frequently, which can lead to dangerous situations and road rage incidents, especially during busier periods. To avoid heated situations and being issued a fine, drivers are advised to use the left-hand lane unless overtaking and to return to it as soon as it is safe. As the expert from Bumper advised: "After overtaking, move back into the left lane when it's safe to do so, stay alert and considerate of other drivers, especially on long journeys." Ultimately, adhering to proper lane discipline not only helps drivers avoid fines and penalty points, but also contributes to a safer and more efficient driving environment for everyone on the motorway.

Business Secretary meeting Lotus after reports of plans to scrap UK carmaking
Business Secretary meeting Lotus after reports of plans to scrap UK carmaking

Powys County Times

time7 hours ago

  • Powys County Times

Business Secretary meeting Lotus after reports of plans to scrap UK carmaking

The Business Secretary will hold talks with Lotus after the carmaker appeared to shelve plans to shut its UK operations. After reports that Chinese owner Geely was planning to stop manufacturing at the Hethel plant in Norfolk, putting 1,300 jobs at risk, Lotus issued a statement saying it had 'no plans' to close the factory. Jonathan Reynolds will speak to the company on Sunday, the PA news agency understands. The British sportscar brand has been majority-owned by Chinese multinational Geely since 2017. The Financial Times had reported it was considering shutting up shop in the UK and in favour of a new plant in the US. On Saturday, Lotus sought to assuage concerns with a statement that it remains 'committed' to the UK, which it called its largest commercial market in Europe and the 'heart' of the brand. 'Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory,' it said. 'We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market. 'We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years. Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store