L AWRENCE OF ARABIA

Next time you wear a helmet think of T E Lawrence. In May 1935, the national hero suffered catastrophic brain injuries during a motorcycle accident. Among the medical experts summoned in an attempt to save his life was the neurosurgeon Hugh Cairns.

Convinced that Lawrence would have lived if he’d been wearing a helmet, Cairns began a study of fatal motorcycle accidents. His findings led to the adoption of protective headgear by military dispatch riders and ultimately their use by motorcyclists everywhere.