RCS Motor Club
Encyclopedia
The Royal College of Science Motor Club was set up in 1955 to maintain "Jezebel", a 1916 Dennis N-Type fire engine and a mascot of the students of the Royal College of Science
, one of the founding three Colleges of Imperial College, London, in South Kensington
.
Her registration number is LP 8389 and she served in the London Fire Brigade
, before being transferred to Joseph Crosfield
, a soap factory in 1932 . She was acquired by the students' union, the Royal College of Science Union
in 1955 for official transport of the President.
Due to destruction of records of the LFB during World War Two, it was not until 2003 that it was established Jez, as she is affectionately known, served first at Vauxhall, and then at Rotherhithe in 1919.
Jezebel is still maintained by students of Imperial College London. She is lovingly looked after by a motley collection of current and past students to keep her in good mechanical condition, and to ensure that her 55 square feet (5.1 m²) of brasswork is kept highly polished.
Jez attends all sorts of rallies and shows throughout the year, as well as many pub-crawls and charity events. The Motor Club philosophy is that she is there to be run (she travels everywhere under her own power, never on a transporter) and her raison d'etre is to amuse and arouse both students and the general public.
She has appeared on TV, including the BBC's Blue Peter
children's programme, and in the 1967 film The Jokers
, directed by Michael Winner
, starring Oliver Reed
and Michael Crawford
.
Royal College of Science
The Royal College of Science was a higher education institution located in South Kensington; it was a constituent college of Imperial College London from 1907 until it was wholly absorbed by Imperial in 2002. Alumni include H. G. Wells and Brian May and are distinguishable by the letters ARCS ...
, one of the founding three Colleges of Imperial College, London, in South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
.
Jezebel
London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
, before being transferred to Joseph Crosfield
Joseph Crosfield
Joseph Crosfield was a businessman who established a soap and chemical manufacturing business in Warrington, which was in the historic county of Lancashire and is now in the ceremonial county of Cheshire...
, a soap factory in 1932 . She was acquired by the students' union, the Royal College of Science Union
Royal College of Science Union
The Royal College of Science Union is a student sub-union at Imperial College London, which represents over 4,500 students of the Sciences at the university.- History :...
in 1955 for official transport of the President.
Due to destruction of records of the LFB during World War Two, it was not until 2003 that it was established Jez, as she is affectionately known, served first at Vauxhall, and then at Rotherhithe in 1919.
Jezebel is still maintained by students of Imperial College London. She is lovingly looked after by a motley collection of current and past students to keep her in good mechanical condition, and to ensure that her 55 square feet (5.1 m²) of brasswork is kept highly polished.
Jez attends all sorts of rallies and shows throughout the year, as well as many pub-crawls and charity events. The Motor Club philosophy is that she is there to be run (she travels everywhere under her own power, never on a transporter) and her raison d'etre is to amuse and arouse both students and the general public.
She has appeared on TV, including the BBC's Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
children's programme, and in the 1967 film The Jokers
The Jokers
The Jokers is a 1967 comedy film written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and directed by Michael Winner. The film stars Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed as brothers who hatch a plot to steal the Crown Jewels....
, directed by Michael Winner
Michael Winner
Michael Robert Winner is a British film director and producer, active in both Europe and the United States, also known as a food critic for the Sunday Times.-Early life and early career :...
, starring Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed was an English actor known for his burly screen presence. Reed exemplified his real-life macho image in "tough guy" roles...
and Michael Crawford
Michael Crawford
Michael Crawford OBE is an English actor and singer. He has garnered great critical acclaim and won numerous awards during his career, which covers radio, television, film, and stagework on both London's West End and on Broadway in New York City...
.
External links
- Official web site
- Imperial College Union Clubs and Societies
- Freshers’ Handbook 2007 pdf
- http://www.fire-engine-photos.com/picture/number3869.asp
- http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/search2?coll_id=1092&inst_id=3
- http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/reporter/previousissues/issue1691november2006/centenaryupdate
- http://www.imperial.ac.uk/centenary/memories/sykes.shtml
- http://www.greenbeltrelay.org.uk/route.htm
- http://www.londonparade.co.uk/history/participants/details.asp?id=1963
- http://archive.dailyecho.co.uk/2006/8/14/102233.html
Video
- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8887367788319028328
- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5051816900535098507