The IAgrE Pioneering Technology Special Interest group recommend the speaker, Paul Henderson, and this fascinating subject, we hope you can join them for this IAgrE Lunchtime Lecture.
You might not have heard of this little-known inventor, engineer and scientist but he is responsible for describing and developing so many astonishing ideas before anyone else, from principles of aerodynamics to hybrid power. Ahead of his time, he was responsible for numerous ‘firsts’, including the first all-British four-wheeled petrol motor car in 1895 and hundreds of patents for ideas that we see in vehicles today - not to mention his poetry or alternative musical scale! His fascinating story is one that is brought to life though the vast collection of items that have been digitised and are available online in the Lanchester Interactive Archive. We hope to share a glimpse into the life and achievements of this pioneering genius who has been described as ‘Britain’s Leonardo da Vinci’.
Paul Henderson has been part of the Lanchester Interactive Archive outreach team since its inception in 2017. A former science teacher and charity communications specialist, he has been taking Fred’s story from primary schools to dementia cafés via events like the NEC Classic Car show and now online! Based at Coventry University (formerly Lanchester Polytechnic), he has recently learnt to drive the latest acquisition to the archive, a 1932 Lanchester limousine. This will form part of a mobile (and socially distanced) exhibition that combines augmented reality with the sights, sounds and smells of a rare piece of automotive heritage.
