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Donald Campbell, 1921 – 1967, came to Coniston in the wake of his father, the great speed ace of the 1920s and 1930s, Sir Malcolm Campbell, holder of both land and water speed records.

From August 1939, when Sir Malcolm broke his own water speed record with a new one of 141.74mph, a variety of Bluebirds sped across Coniston Water in ever faster pursuit – and capture – of the World Water Speed Record, until, on 4 January 1967, tragedy struck.

Donald Campbell perished whilst breaking the 300mph barrier, [so dear to him as Sir Malcolm had been the first to do so on Land in 1935], and thus joined that select band of folk heroes which includes Scott of the Antarctic, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Neil Armstrong, who set out to achieve the seemingly impossible knowing they may die in the attempt.

A Tribute to Donald Campbell CBE and Bluebird K7

by Sophia Dady

Filmed on location in Coniston and the Ruskin Museum Bluebird Wing on 4th January 2020, 53 years after the fatal crash

Respect for Local Hero

After the accident the Campbell family requested that the crash site be treated as a grave for ever and the people of Coniston respected this. For over 34 years they protected the site of their local hero, keeping it a closely guarded secret, skillfully misdirecting searchers.

However, major advances in diving equipment and technology rendered the site increasingly vulnerable. Bill Smith lead a professional search for K7. Gina Campbell gave him permission to continue, instructing ‘. . . Find my Dad so I can put him somewhere warm . . .’
He did.

In 2001 Bill Smith and his team found and recovered the body of Donald Campbell and his hydroplane.

Donald Campbell’s funeral was held at St Andrew’s Church, Coniston, on 12 September 2001; he is buried in Coniston Cemetery in the heart of the village he loved.

On 7th December 2006, Gina Campbell formally gifted Bluebird K7 to The Ruskin Museum knowing Coniston is its spriritual home. Her father the ‘Skipper’ and Bluebird K7 should stay together

Bill Smith is leading forward the conservation and rebuild of Bluebird K7. The hydroplane’s main-frame is over 50% original material. The reason? Bluebird’s Orpheus engine acted as a sacrificial anode.

The Ruskin Museum Bluebird Wing is ready to house and display the conserved and rebuilt Bluebird K7, and tell her story.

The Bluebird Wing - photo courtesy Anthony Stutchbury