Vickers at Brooklands – The Other Story of Britain’s First Aerodrome
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:
- 17th July 2026
- Tagged:
- Aircraft | Brooklands | World War 2 | Barnes Wallis
Brooklands is best known for motor racing, but for nearly eighty years it was also home to one of Britain’s major defence engineering centres: the Vickers aircraft factory. From 1911 until its closure in 1989, Vickers designed, tested, and built many of the nation’s most significant aircraft on the site. During the Second World War, Brooklands produced the near‑indestructible Vickers Wellington, one of the RAF’s two heavy bombers in the conflict’s early years. It became the most‑built British aircraft of the war, with 2,500 constructed at Brooklands. After 1945, the factory turned to civil aviation, creating the Viscount, Vanguard, and VC10, all flown from the adjacent airfield. Brooklands was also the workplace of Barnes Wallis, whose preserved office now forms part of Brooklands Museum. The site’s design office contributed to major post‑war projects including the BAC One‑Eleven and the British half of Concorde, even though these were built elsewhere. This talk explores Brooklands’ remarkable aviation heritage and the aircraft, engineers, and innovations that made it one of Britain’s most important industrial sites.
Views: 7 | 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
- The Lion Has Wings: A Brief History of the British Aircraft Industry
- First Man In Space: The Beginnings of the Space Race
- Signals, Secrets and the Silent War: The Story of Bletchley Park
- Footprints on the Moon: How Apollo Beat the Odds
- Lancaster: Britain's Night Warrior
- Halifax: The Heavy Bomber Britain Almost Forgot
- Wellington: The Bomber That Bent but Didn’t Break
- The Bombers that Won the Night: A three part series
- Spitfire vs. Messerschmitt: The Battle for the Skies
- Wildcat vs Zero: Duel in the Pacific Skies
- Stations in Society: Meeting Places, Marketplaces, Masterpieces
- Why You Should Hire History Graduates: Skills for a Smarter Business
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