A new Westminster Green Plaque has been unveiled in Farm St, Mayfair celebrating Charles Amherst Villiers, the pioneering engineer whose remarkable career stretched from the Blower Bentley to Formula One, the US space programme and the world of James Bond.
The City of Westminster writes:
Villiers, who lived in Mayfair in the 1930s, is best known for designing the famous Blower Bentley supercharger and working with Malcolm Campbell on the early Blue Bird land speed record cars. His engineering achievements also provided inspiration for his close friend Ian Fleming. Fleming gave James Bond a supercharged Bentley in the early 007 novels and drew on Villiers’ engineering expertise in the creation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The plaque was unveiled by Cllr Robert Rigby, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Resident Services and Civic Pride, alongside plaque sponsor and Paul Kenny, author of The Man Who Supercharged Bond.
Cllr Robert Rigby, Cabinet Member for Resident Services and Civic Pride, said: ‘Charles Amherst Villiers had an extraordinary life. From the Blower Bentley and Blue Bird to Formula One, aerospace and his friendship with Ian Fleming, his story reached into so many different parts of twentieth-century history. Westminster’s Green Plaques are about bringing stories like this to life. I’m proud that Villiers’ connection with Westminster will now be recognised for residents and visitors to discover.’
Paul Kenny, author of The Man Who Supercharged Bond, said: ‘Villiers’ story takes you from the Blower Bentley and the world of James Bond to Formula One, portrait painting and the space programme. Few people could claim such an extraordinary range of achievements. This plaque is a fitting tribute to a fascinating man and will help introduce his remarkable story to a new generation.’
Westminster’s Green Plaque scheme recognises people who have made a genuine and lasting contribution to society, as well as buildings and events of historical significance. Nominations are considered by an independent advisory panel.
