It’s unusual for me to make any comments or statements regarding the situation surrounding Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 record-breaking Hydroplane, and the ongoing current impasse between the Ruskin Museum (RM) and The Bluebird Project Ltd (BBP). On this occasion however I feel moved to rise to the bait.
The RM is a museum accredited by the Arts Council, it is one of the few such operations, certainly within Cumbria which “washes its face” financially and in 2020 was voted into the top 10% of visitor attractions worldwide by TripAdvisor. Not bad for what we admit is a relatively small Museum.
The RM unveiled an interesting piece of Campbell History last Tuesday on the 55th Anniversary of Donald’s fatal crash, that one terrible moment which both took his life and yet somehow immortalised him at the same instant. I find it sad therefore that BBP, an organisation which purports to want to partner with the RM in terms of the future for Bluebird K7, should decide that the installation of the restored Land Rover used in the 1960 & 1964 Bluebird CN7 World Land Speed Record attempts should sound the bell for open season on having yet another go at the RM. It seems if there isn’t anything truthful to be discussed it can just be made up as they go along.
It’s almost like a scene from Animal Farm with a mantra of “BBP Good, RM Bad” irrespective of what we do. The topic here of course being the floor of the Bluebird Wing. Bill Smith of BBP has asserted on their website diary and social media that he has misgivings about the strength of the floor. This line was trotted out in 2019 almost immediately after the refusal of the offer made in good faith regarding allowing BBP 3 months access per year to Bluebird K7 for running purposes.
Museum staff and Trustees are not structural engineers; it wouldn’t be reasonable to expect them to be, but as Mr Smith says he has done, we are also able to discuss with the structural engineers responsible. We can and have used photographic evidence allied to discussions with people there at the time, which in turn allows us to conclude, as do our structural engineers, that there is NO strength issue with the floor in the Bluebird Wing. Equations have been calculated, figures run, and everything checks out. We have told BBP this, so quite why the need was felt to try to imply that there still “might” remain some doubt is really quite incredulous, and although the RM has stated previously the relationship between us and BBP is over, this does nothing to rebuild any of the already irreparable bridges.
We await with interest the likely resurrection of the suggestion that the Orpheus Engine in Bluebird K7 contains a radioactive Magnesium/Thorium alloy which it doesn’t, or some other weird and wonderful accusation dreamt up on an otherwise lacklustre afternoon in Mr Smith’s office. For that’s what these stories are, fantasies dreamt up to try and discredit the RM. Mr Smith and the BBP don’t have the best track record with Museums, but that’s another story.
We have sources extremely close to BBP and we hear a lot of stories regarding what goes on there and provided it doesn’t directly impact upon ourselves as such, most of these we don’t comment on, because frankly they’re not our problem, nor is most of it any of our business. Just as the floor of the Bluebird Wing isn’t any of BBP’s affair. I would have thought manoeuvring a long wheelbase Land Rover without power steering in the display hall should have put any concerns to bed but apparently not, some people refuse to admit they’re wrong.
If any further reason was required to illustrate why the RM needs to part ways with BBP, the tweet at 20:47 on 8th January perhaps crystallises this. This tweet showed a mock-up of a medicine which let’s just say is “anti-idiot”, but I’ve cleaned that up. Now, anyone who knows me will testify, I like a laugh as much as anyone, indeed I am noted for it, but I cannot imagine any other organisation with whom BBP like to align themselves issuing or being associated with a tweet like that. It’s not a case of being precious or prissy, merely a case of being professional.
So, while Mr Smith attempts to tie us in knots with muddying the waters, obfuscating, prevaricating and just generally trying to discredit the RM and yet in another breath expecting us to work with them, we’ll carry on working and talking to people who can and will help us wrest Bluebird K7 from the physical possession of BBP, and fulfil the 2006 Campbell Family Deed of Gift to the RM as was originally agreed.
It really is that simple, and the only reason any of this is being debated is because one person has tried to move the goalposts on that original arrangement.
Hopefully the day when Bluebird K7 is installed safely in the museum will come before too long, and we can make arrangements for her to be run in a safe, competent, and professional manner on Coniston Water.
