Sir Thomas Sopwith's 101-year life spanned aviation history. A contemporary of the Wright Brothers, he went on to become a highly successful aeroplane manufacturer in his own right: his Camel and Pup revolutionised aerial combat in the First World War. His Hurricane and Lancaster were amongst the most successful designs of the Second and the remarkable Harrier `jump jet' emerged from an industrial empire that employed up to 127,000 people.