ERNEST HIVES: 21 APRIL 1886 – 24 APRIL 1965
- A concise summary of the life and accomplishments of Ernest Hives, who was born on April 21, 1886
- An influential figure in the early days of Rolls-Royce, pivotal to the brand’s success in the significant motor trials of the early 20th century, ultimately becoming Chairman of the Board in 1950
- The fourth installment in a series spotlighting key individuals in the foundation story of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in honor of the marque’s 120th anniversary in 2024
- An exploration of the people, personalities, and interconnected relationships that profoundly shaped the creation, growth, and enduring impact of the brand
- Each narrative underscores and celebrates the essential human element behind ‘the best car in the world’
“Even for someone as talented as Henry Royce, theoretical knowledge has its limits: at some point, it is essential to verify if a design actually works in practice. In the nascent days of Rolls-Royce, that individual was Ernest Hives. Emerging from humble beginnings, Hives transformed his passion for motor cars and impressive self-taught driving skills into a illustrious career with Rolls-Royce, initially as an experimental test driver, later as part of the ‘works’ team competing in the renowned motor trials of the era. His hands-on experiences and keen observations from the road undoubtedly played a critical role in Royce’s relentless pursuit of improvement, positioning him as a key figure in the technical evolution of the ‘best car in the world’.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations and Heritage, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Ernest Walter Hives was born on April 21, 1886 in
Reading, Berkshire. At the age of just 12 in 1898, he embarked on a three-year
apprenticeship with a local engineering firm that also dealt in motor cars.
Right from the start, young Hives was entranced by these
revolutionary machines. He envisioned his future intertwined with them, mirroring Henry
Royce’s journey from a previous generation by refusing to let his humble origins and limited formal education hinder his aspirations. He shared Royce’s tireless work ethic, dedicating long hours and leveraging his naturally inquisitive mind. He keenly observed and absorbed knowledge from the night shift workers, steadily expanding his understanding of the inner workings and operation of motor cars.
- Advertisement -
However, his interest wasn’t solely academic, as he swiftly
taught himself to drive by moving vehicles around the garage. Presumably with his employer’s approval, even at the tender age of 14, he quickly transitioned to driving on the roads, where he instructed clients on driving. His blend of technical expertise, an intuitive ‘feel’ for automobiles, and exceptional practical skills would define his trajectory in the years ahead.
His career took a pivotal turn around 1903 (the exact date is
unknown) when Hives extended aid to a motorist experiencing difficulties with one of his cars (whether this transpired at the Reading garage or during a journey remains unrecorded). The motorist in question was none other than The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls.
Immensely impressed by the encounter, Rolls promptly hired Hives
as his personal chauffeur. The young man’s fortunes continued to rise as he swiftly advanced to the role of mechanic at C S Rolls & Co, the prestigious London motor car dealership established by his new employer at the beginning of 1903.
Despite this, driving remained Hives’ true passion. He departed
C S Rolls & Co to work initially at Owens and later Napier, participating in the grueling Scottish Reliability Trials of 1907 and 1908, as well as the 1908 Brooklands meeting, where he donned jockey’s racing colors of yellow and white which he humorously likened to ‘a poached egg’.
In 1908, he made a fateful decision that would define his
trajectory; accepting a position at Rolls-Royce, now in its fourth year, as an experimental tester. His own recollections hint at some initial reluctance. “Upon reaching Derby in 1908 and stepping out of the station in heavy rain,” he later penned. “Surveying Midland Road, drenched and dull, I flipped a coin to decide between continuing to Rolls-Royce or catching the next train back home.” Such small instances, fleeting choices, and slim margins for error often determine careers, lives, and even history itself.
- Advertisement -
Following Rolls-Royce’s success at the 1907 Scottish Reliability Trial, the company introduced the role of experimental tester. The trial had not been a disappointment for the budding brand; in fact, it had triumphed decisively, with the 40/50 H.P. – more commonly known as the Silver Ghost – outshining its competitors, including the Napier driven by Hives. Furthermore, the demanding 15,000-mile test had served as the motor car’s inaugural competitive endurance run. Not one to rest on his laurels, Henry Royce interpreted this resounding victory as a clarion call for ongoing testing to, in his words, ‘enhance the best that currently exists’.
Hives joined the company’s newly established experimental department
and swiftly displayed a natural aptitude for this painstaking, technically precise work. His insights into a motor car’s nuanced performance and reactions – whether it developed a particular resonance noise at a certain speed, the chassis felt excessively rigid or lacked stiffness during cornering, or the engine exhibited a ‘flat spot’ at a specific rpm – proved invaluable to Royce and the design team. His talents were so remarkable that when the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) announced its headline 1911 endurance trial from London to Edinburgh and back, Hives was immediately selected to drive Rolls-Royce’s entry: Silver Ghost 1701.
Engineered as an ‘Experimental Speed Car’, 1701 effortlessly clinched
victory in the event, where participants traversed the entire 794-mile span between the two cities with the vehicle locked in top gear. Under Hives’ expert guidance, the car averaged almost 20mph and achieved a then-unprecedented fuel efficiency of over 24mpg – truly remarkable feats given the challenging state of roads in Edwardian Britain. It served as a testament to Hives’ skill, bravery, and unwavering focus behind the wheel, as well as to Royce’s engineering prowess.
- Advertisement -
Building on this triumph, Rolls-Royce engaged in the even more rigorous Alpine Trials, conducted over eight days and 2,600km across some of Europe’s highest roads. Following a lackluster performance by a ‘privateer’ car in 1912, Managing Director Claude Johnson was determined to redeem the company’s reputation at the 1913 event. With characteristic zeal and resolve, he organized an official ‘works’ team comprising three specially prepared Silver Ghosts, each with a designated driver and mechanic, alongside a fourth car crafted to the same specifications, steered by private owner James Radley. Hives, a standout driver for the company – notably the first to surpass 100mph in a Silver Ghost – naturally earned a spot on Johnson’s elite team. Steering the Number Two car, accompanied by mechanic George Hancock, he executed a nearly flawless performance (aside from a minor hiccup of stalling while exiting the parking area in Salzburg), securing one of the team’s three silver medals. Overall, the Silver Ghosts asserted their dominance as ‘the swiftest, quietest, and most robust vehicles in the event’.
In tandem with his racing endeavors, Hives continued to play a pivotal role in Rolls-Royce’s research and development initiatives as an experimental tester, introducing the first ‘chassis bump rig’ capable of stress-testing chassis components to failure. He also undertook the potentially hazardous task of road-testing Royce’s latest designs in real-world conditions. Settling on France as the ideal locale for high-speed road trials, he embarked on regular expeditions along a route he charted between Paris and Royce’s winter residence at Le Canadel, near Nice. For someone who had harbored a passion for motor cars since childhood, this likely felt like a dream job.
The innate talent and sheer joy of driving that Hives exhibited
as a young man remained with him throughout his career. Many who knew him spoke of a ‘sixth sense’ he seemed to possess while driving, intuitively discerning if the road ahead was clear, navigating the swiftest line through a turn, or when to ease off on the accelerator.
As his professional journey advanced, Hives became increasingly involved in advancing Rolls-Royce’s aero engines alongside its automotive offerings. In 1937, he ascended to the role of Board Director and General Works Manager; a significant milestone was his decision to separate the company’s motor car (chassis) and aero engine divisions into distinct entities, a structure that endures to this day.
By 1946, he had assumed the position of Managing Director, and in 1950, he was appointed Chairman of the Board. That same year, he was ennobled as 1st Baron Hives, marking an extraordinary odyssey from Charles Rolls’s chauffeur to guiding the eminent company co-founded by his late employer nearly five decades earlier. However, the man who methodically climbed the ranks from a garage in Reading to the House of Lords always retained a humble demeanor, modestly describing himself akin to Royce’s self-depiction as ‘merely a mechanic’. With all due respect, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars respectfully begs to differ.