A BLUE plaque now honours the Leamington woman behind the Rolls-Royce emblem.
It was unveiled at 24 Charlotte Street by town mayor Coun Sarah Boad in honour of Eleanor Velasco Thornton, also known as “Nelly”, who was the model for the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy – one of the most recognisable symbols in motoring history.
The blue plaque scheme recognises former residents of Leamington who made significant contributions to the town’s history.
Coun Boad said: “The woman seemingly in flight mascot we know for sitting proudly at the front of this prestigious car has a story behind it that brings a fascinating link and history to Leamington.
“The story of this Leamingtonian, was of a bright, independent woman who trained as a secretary, obtained a responsible position working for an automotive journal and went on to work as a personal assistant to the editor, John Scott-Montagu, of Car Illustrated. He was an early car enthusiast and bought a Rolls-Royce and commissioned the sculpture of his muse, Nelly who modelled for this distinctive emblem.
“The blue plaque commemorates this famous image of Nelly, a resident of our wonderful town, for future generations.
“The Leamington Town Council blue plaques scheme brings together a group of volunteers and statutory bodies dedicated to celebrating the town’s rich history. I wish to thank the blue plaque group for their hard work in ensuring that the inspiration Nelly provided as a model for the iconic Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy is remembered.”
