The Lion Has Wings: A Brief History of the British Aircraft Industry
Richard Marks
- Regions:
- South East, London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset
- Notice Period:
- Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £80 plus travel @45p per mile. Can also be run online
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 30th March 2026
- Tagged:
- History | Aviation History | Aircraft | Aviation Pioneers
From the canvas-and-wire pioneers of the First World War to the advanced combat aircraft of the twenty first century, Britain’s aircraft industry has been one of the nation’s most inventive, influential, and occasionally embattled sectors. This talk traces that remarkable journey, beginning with the small workshops of Sopwith, Avro, and de Havilland, where individual designers could still sketch an aircraft on a drawing board and see it flying within months. We follow the industry through the interwar boom in civil aviation, the extraordinary pressures and innovations of the Second World War, and the post war era of consolidation that produced legendary names such as Hawker Siddeley, English Electric, and Vickers Armstrong. Along the way, we explore the triumphs—the Spitfire, the Mosquito, the Comet, the Harrier—and the setbacks, from cancelled projects to shifting government priorities. The story culminates in the formation of British Aerospace and today’s BAE Systems, a global defence and aerospace leader whose roots still carry the DNA of those early pioneers. Throughout, the talk blends technical insight with human stories, showing how designers, test pilots, factory workers, and policymakers shaped an industry that helped define Britain’s place in the modern world
Views: 8 | Enquiries: 0About Richard Marks
Dr Richard Marks is a freelance historian based in Berkshire, known for bringing Britain’s industrial past vividly to life. With a PhD in History from the University of Reading (2024), he specialises in industrial, military, and railway history, as well as the history of science — weaving together technical insight and human stories with compelling clarity.
His current research explores the forces of industrial and social change in the Victorian era, charting the evolution of Britain’s railways, canals, and manufacturing landscapes. Whether delving into the machinery of empire or the lives shaped by it, Richard offers audiences fresh perspectives on how Britain was built — and what it left behind.
A seasoned educator and engaging speaker, Richard lectures part-time at the University of Oxford and has taught a wide range of historical subjects to diverse audiences. His talks combine scholarly rigour with accessible storytelling, making him a sought-after contributor to heritage events, academic panels, and public programmes.
Richard's talks are suitable for different audiences and group sizes. He can adjust the length and format to meet your needs. His goal is to inform and entertain, and to leave the audience with a new insight and a desire to learn more.
Whilst Richard usually runs face to face talks in London and the South East, he is happy to discuss talks anywhere in the United Kingdom, and is more than comfortable with presenting over Zoom. Please feel free to contact Richard to discuss costs and options for any of his talks.
Richard regularly updates his list of talks as he completes research into a variety of topics, so do check back on his page to see what's new.
Richard mostly delivers talks in South East but has travelled further afield and is available to discuss travelling anywhere in the UK. He is also comfortable delivering virtual talks through Zoom.
Feedback from previous talks: "Richard had clearly done a massive amount of research and preparation. He is an excellent presenter very knowledgeable and engaging speaker. It was informative and thought provoking."
"I found the whole subject fascinating and wanted to learn more."
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Richard Marks
- A Lot More than Spitfires; Behind the Battle of Britain
- Arrival of the Railways in Reading
- A Bombers Moon: The Equipment and Tactics of RAF Bomber Command during World War Two
- Iron Dragons: British Tanks in the First World War
- A Barber and a Surgeon: Medicine in Victorian Times
- Stephensons Horses: The Victorian Railways
- Trouble at Mill: Life in the Victorian Factories
- An Eclectic Extravaganza: Victorians at Leisure
- Chocks Away: The Royal Flying Corps in the First World War
- So You Think We Do Not Make Anything Anymore ? British Manufacturing in the 21st Century
- The Great Western Railway in Victorian Berkshire
- Munitions Workers in World War One
- Britains Railways During World War One
- Britains Railways During World War Two
- Munitions Workers in World War Two
- They also Served: Women in Britain's Armed Forces during World War Two
- A Germination of an Idea: The Suttons Seeds Company
- A lot of Bs: Industry in Victorian Reading; more than just Biscuits
- What did Aunt May do in the War? Munitions Workers in World War One for Family Historians
- What Did Grandma do in World War 2? Munitions Workers in World War Two for Family Historians
- The Royal Flying Corps in World War I for Family Historians
- The Royal Air Force in World War 2 for Family Historians
- The Royal Navy in World War I for Family Historians
- The Royal Navy in World War Two for Family Historians
- Football and World War One
- Britain's Railway History for Family Historians
- The Royal Air Force in World War 2
- Biscuits for Queen Victoria: The Story of the Early Days of Huntley and Palmer
- The Royal Navy in World War I
- The Royal Navy in World War 2
- The Western Front in World War One
- The Home Front in World War I
- More Than France: Why World War I was a World War
- A British Industrial Giant that Never Was: The Story of British Rail Engineering Limited
- Living in The Slums: The Experience of the Victorian Working Class
- D-Day: Operation Overlord and the Liberation of Europe
- Railway 200: The British Railway Revolution
- Railway 200: How Britains First Railways Changed Everything
- The World's First Steam Tramway: The Story of the Wantage Tramway
- Steel Fortresses: British Tanks in World War Two
- What the Victorian railway did for you...
- Victory in Europe. Victory in Japan. But what really won World War Two for the Allies ?
- Trams and Biscuits: The History of Reading's Tramways
- The Good, The Bad and the Sandwich: The Story of British Rail in the 1970s
- Deck the Halls: How the Victorians Invented Christmas
- From Cottage to Factory: How the Industrial Revolution Shaped Our Ancestors’ Lives
- Engines of Change: The Industrial Revolution and the Making of Modern Britain
- Spitfire at 90: The Story of Britain’s Most Beloved Aircraft
- First Man In Space: The Beginnings of the Space Race
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