The Ruskin Museum has never spoken publicly about BBP’s claims of ownership due to not wanting to be involved in a public debate. However we feel that there is now a need for transparency so we have published a timeline which shows the events from the recovery of Bluebird K7 until the present day. We hope this proves that the aim for Bluebird K7 was always for her to be restored and returned to the Ruskin Museum for public display.
This Timeline has been edited and updated to reflect the position as at early April 2024, with Bluebird K7 now in the purpose-built Bluebird Wing.
4th January 1967 – Donald Malcolm Campbell CBE is killed while attempting to push his existing World Water Speed record from 276 mph to over 300 mph. Some
wreckage is brought ashore almost immediately, the main hull is found the following day. Despite extensive dives from Royal Navy divers, no trace can be found of Donald himself. Family and friends take the decision to stop the search and leave Donald wherever he lay effectively as a grave and an unseen memorial to a brave Briton.
From late 1996 Bill Smith commences the search for Bluebird K7. She was never “lost” plenty of people in Coniston knew the rough whereabouts and the wreck was initially marked with a buoy. Bill Smith speaks to Gina Campbell to tell her he’s looking for the boat and would she like a piece if / when he locates it?
Late 2000 – Bill Smith locates main portion of Bluebird K7, Gina agrees that following a serious incident during a diving expedition, the wreck could / should be recovered to prevent “looting” by divers. Some family members were not in favour.
8th March 2001 – Bill Smith and Team raise Bluebird K7. Bluebird K7 is taken to Bill Smith’s workshop while discussions on what to do with her are carried out. Bill Smith is apparently paid £15,000 by BBC for the filming rights of the salvage operation for a documentary.
22nd March 2001 – Vicky Slowe (Curator of Ruskin Museum) faxes a letter to Bill Smith with a justification for the Ruskin Museum to be the permanent home of Bluebird K7.
20th April 2001 – Vicky Slowe writes to Don Wales and Gina Campbell proposing Bluebird K7 is restored and housed in an extension to the Ruskin Museum.
2001 – post recovery of Bluebird K7 – Bill Smith apparently investigates options for claiming salvage. Coniston Water is an inland waterway and so salvage rights do not apply.
March & April 2001 – Paul Foulkes-Halbard, a Campbell aficionado claims to have purchased the wreck of Bluebird K7 from the Insurance Company. Tonia Bern Campbell & Lord Mishcon as executors of the Donald Campbell Estate challenge the assertion via the High Court.(see June 2001)
May 28th 2001 – Bill Smith & Team, having previously located the body of Donald Campbell, bring him ashore with the permission of the Coroner. This is Bill Smith’s 34th Birthday.
June 2001 – During the case against Mr Foulkes-Halbard, Bill Smith states in his witness statement “I regarded the Campbell family as the highest authority, and it was my intention to abide exclusively by the wishes of the Campbell family and the executors of the estate”.
September 3rd 2001 – Stephen Rimmer & Co Ltd – Solicitors, on behalf of Mr Foulkes-Halbard agree to not defend his claim any further an supporting the wish that Bluebird K7 be put on permanent display in Coniston.
12th September 2001 – Donald Campbell is laid to rest in the New Graveyard, Hawkshead Old Road, Coniston. The weather is very wet & windy – very Campbellesque. The day is overshadowed form a news point of view by the World Trade Centre Terrorist attack in New York the previous day.
16th October 2001 – The Campbell Family Heritage Trust (CFHT) comes into being. This is a Trust with the intention to commemorate the achievements of Sir Malcom & Donald Campbell and their descendants ion the field of speed record breaking as well as holding related intellectual property and trademark rights.
25th October 2001 – Inquest into the death of Donald Campbell concludes that it was an accident.
27th November 2001 – Gina Campbell offers K7 to the Ruskin Museum 18th March 2002 – Meeting of all interested parties meet at Rheged regarding restoration and display of K7
May 2002 – Bluebird Project title used to cover acquisition, restoration and building an extension to Ruskin Museum
July 2002 – Options appraisal for the future of Bluebird K7 undertaken by Michael Ware at the request of Bruce Bennison (then Cumbria County Council Community Regeneration Manager)
September 2002 – Ruskin Museum raises a grant from NWMS to cover costs of appointing consultants, Jura to formulate bid to The Heritage Lottery to cover major parts of costs of acquisition, restoration and building.
24th March 2003 – Unilateral Undertaking signed by The Ruskin Museum with The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) stating “that the extension to the museum will not be occupied other than for the purpose of housing Bluebird K7 (and associated material relating to Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell’s world records)”. With Bluebird K7 not being allowed to be absent from the museum for more than 28
days in any one calendar year. This is what is known as a Section 106 agreement, which is a legally binding agreement or planning obligation with a landowner as part of the granting of planning permission. PLEASE NOTE: These conditions have now been discharged – please see document here: Unilateral Undertaking Variation
September 2004 and December 2005 – 2 Heritage Lottery funding applications were made and subsequently declined after much consultation.
Late 2006 – Decision made to proceed without lottery monies. Ruskin Museum to raise funds for Bluebird wing, Bill Smith to use volunteers and seek sponsorship and raise funds for the express purpose of restoring Bluebird K7. The agreement relies on the Campbell family to donating Bluebird K7 to the Ruskin Museum.
7th December 2006 – Gina Campbell formally donates Bluebird K7 to The Ruskin Museum, via a Deed of Gift, on the agreement that K7 be “restored to as close is reasonably possible, to such condition as it was in at 08.30am on 4th January 1967” The conservation and reconfiguration was to be carried out under the control of Bill Smith of Kiltech Underwater. Bluebird K7 would then “following completion of the
conservation and reconfiguration of the Property, be placed on permanent display with the Ruskin Museum for educational purposes for public benefit” The Deed of Gift was drawn up by Bill Smith and his then lawyers, Crutes LLP and not sighted by The Ruskin Museum or The Campbell Family Heritage Trust prior to official signing, witnessed by press and with Bill Smith stating the restoration would be at “No cost to the Museum” and carried out within a few years. At that meeting, Cumbria Vision made a pledge of £250K towards the building of the Bluebird Wing at The Ruskin Museum to house the restored Bluebird K7.
“12th December 2006” – The Ruskin Museum’s Curator, Vicky Slowe and Bill Smith sign a “Letter of Authority” which authorises Bill Smith to proceed with the conservation and refiguration of Bluebird K7 as per Clauses 5.1 and 5.2 of the Agreement of Deed of Gift, which states K7 is to be restored to “operable condition” and to be close as reasonably possible to such condition as it was in at 08.30am on 4th January. The agreement also states that the restored K7 will be “on permanent display” within the Ruskin Museum. While we acknowledge that this letter was drawn up in 2013 and backdated, both Bill Smith and Vicky Slowe signed to confirm the contents and scope of the agreement. Not the Museum’s finest hour in terms of transparent conduct.
November 2007 – Yahoo Speed Record Group (Online) – Questions posed to Bill Smith by another member of that group :- “Can Bill, for the benefit of the Group please answer the question in detail rather than
fudge it as he appears to be doing.
1. Please confirm whether the Ruskin will own the entire boat > > when complete including the running Orpheus, the new sponsons, the rivets, any new ally panels, bolts, fixings and the like, steering wheel, steering column and box, linkages, new air intakes, electrical system throughout, dashboard, clocks, throttle linkages, fuel cocks, seat, harness, canopy, paint, filler, logos, sealants, spray baffles, radio, antenna, fairings, heat shields, brackets, fire extinguishing > > system, brake accumulator, hydraulic brake lines, starting system including hoses, air bottles, valves and the like, transport cradle, boat cover, spare parts, etc, etc. Answer yes or no?
2. Do the Ruskin only own the bits of Bluebird that were recovered from the lake which would mean Bill would own the above and any other bits one cares to think of. Answer yes or no?
3. Alternatively is he intending to set up a trust with himself as chairman to own all of the above and anything else you care to think > > of? Answer yes or no?
4. If the Ruskin own the entire boat when complete including all of the above is all of this confirmed in writing to the Ruskin that they own the entire completed boat including all of the above and is this document available under the Freedom of Information Act? Answer yes or no”
Response
“Renegadenemo Mon Nov 5, 2007 8:17 pm
And I thought you guys knew me well enough… OK, here’s the deal. There’s no f*****g way I want to own a sponson. If I did, I’d build myself a raft of them. Nor do I seek to own any part of K7. I could have done that long ago had I really wanted to. But I didn’t. the only time I ever considered getting involved in legal sh*t was when a big firm of no-win-no-fee solicitors wanted to sue the HLF on my behalf on the basis that I’d
acted to my detriment on their say so. I told the lawyers to f**k off too. I come on here because I think that some people might be interested in what goes on with our project but I’m neither answerable nor accountable to anyone on the group. I come here because it’s fun – or at least it used to be. It was a bullshit question posed out of childishness so here’s what I’ll do. If the group wants all the nuts, bolts and scandal behind why I don’t want a sponson or an engine then I’ll set it all out, but it’ll be the last post I ever make. There now – honest and frank enough for everybody? Bill Smith.”
2008 – Museum Trustees approve a one-off set of “Proving Trials” to confirm that the rebuilt Bluebird K7 is of operable condition in accordance with the 2006 Deed of Gift from CFHT to The Museum.
15th October 2008 – Paul Hannaford on behalf of “The Bluebird Project” writes to David Coxon, as a representative of Coniston Parish Council, Coniston Water Association and Coniston Boating Centre (3 separate organisations) explaining that the rebuild is well underway and “she will be returned to full working order in the first half of 2010”, “once she is complete she will be coming back to her spiritual home in Coniston to be housed in the new extension currently nearing completion at the Ruskin Museum”. The letter also explains about the 10 mph byelaw exemption being sought. The final paragraph states “No dates have been selected for trials at this distant stage but we immediately rule out clashes with busy tourist periods and School half terms” Those who know and understand the story will know that getting the agreement to
run on Coniston (that didn’t happen in the end) was something that Bill Smith insisted took place in the school holidays…
May 2009 – Bill Smith in an email to a donor asking questions said “It’s true, I was going to nick the tail – that’s what divers do. I fully intended to hack it off and add it to my trophies but I couldn’t find the wreck immediately and in the four years it took I fell in love with K7”
June 12th 2010 – The purpose-built Bluebird Wing is opened to the public, with a final land purchase, design, build and fit-out cost of just over £750,000
July 2011 – Sky pays Bluebird Project £30,000 for the rights to broadcast first pictures from Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water, these funds are still in the accounts as a deferred payment. This arrangement was made despite the Ruskin Museum having rights in Bluebird K7 and without their express approval.
28th June 2012 – A not for profit company limited by guarantee is incorporated – The Bluebird Project Ltd (BBP), with 4 four directors – Bill Smith, Alain Douglas, John Barron (who stepped down as a Director in 2022), & Mike Bull (who apparently left in 2019). The Articles of Association refer to the company as a Charity, but no application has ever been made as far as can be found regarding formal recognition of this Company limited by guarantee as a charity. These directors assert their work and efforts have resulted in The Bluebird Project Ltd gaining some partial title to Bluebird K7 – The Museum disputes the position adopted by The Bluebird Project.
April 2013 – Bill Smith is quizzed on The Bluebird Project (BBP) Forum regarding the aims and objectives of The Bluebird Project Ltd by Neil Sheppard (author of Donald Campbell, Bluebird And The Final Record Attempt. Smith responds: “BBP Ltd is a red herring – it was formed to work with the FAAM on the Barra’ project as they wanted a more formal relationship and Barra’ Ltd didn’t seem quite as romantic.
All being well we’ll complete the boat as quickly as is reasonable bearing in mind that it remains a case of do you want it now or do you want it right.
She’ll not be in any fit state to go on display next year, unfortunately, and when she’s ready for testing we can do that away from prying eyes if that’s what’s wanted though I can’t imagine the Coniston folks being best fussed” Bill Smith explains further the next day that the timing of the forming of The Bluebird Project Ltd is the Red Herring and it was always intended to incorporate the project.
May 2013 – Vicky Slowe of the Ruskin Museum proposes and sends a draft memorandum of understanding to Bill Smith on future relationships.
November 2013 – Bill Smith emails Vicky Slowe with the idea of creating an agreement which sets out future running and maintenance of Bluebird K7, and then later sends a “draft Deed of Gift””, designed to donate the work, donations of materials and goodwill in the restoration by Bill Smith and the volunteers to The Ruskin Museum. Included in the draft is reference to running, which Bill states was left in “by accident” by his lawyers but left it in to “see what you (i.e. The Museum) thought about it” – Vicky Slowe, after consultation with Anne Hall ( Chair) & Nick Monk (Treasurer), sent an initial response to his proposal, but the document was never formally discussed, approved, or indeed signed by the whole committee of Trustees. This draft agreement was sent only a few weeks after the Letter of Authority was signed. (see 7th November 2018)
Late 2015 – Malcolm Pittwood of BBP Operations writes to Coniston Parish Council regarding the Proving Trials explaining that “This painstaking work by volunteers will see the iconic Bluebird k7 craft returned to the Ruskin Museum in the village of Coniston” Further “The timing of the (Proving) Trial will, as always, depend upon the rate of working by the BBP volunteers who have preserved a large proportion of original material and are rebuilding the boat to the highest standards”
February 2016 – Coniston Parish Council pulls together the Bluebird Event Working Group, to try and work up an event including the proving Trials. BBP always vague about when the boat could be available for the event.
August 2018 – BBP take K7 to Loch Fad, Isle of Bute for “crew training” The Ruskin Museum was advised that it would be private and was to try out the boat and for the crew to get used to running her. Shortly before the event, Bill Smith announced that the event was going to be made public and invited everyone to come along. The Ruskin Museum was not consulted on this change and were informed of it happening rather than consulted on the intended scope of the event. If one watches the Sky Documentary – “Bluebird – The Afterlife”, it charts the Bute trip and a near miss where the boat was close to crashing. In the final seconds of the documentary, Bill Smith says “what we need now is a bigger lake, let’s walk away on a high”. BBP had Public Liability insurance to the value of £2M for this event. There was no cover we are aware of for the fabric of the boat, or it’s pilot(s) and no cover for members of BBP.
7th November 2018 – Bill Smith and other members of The Bluebird Project volunteers attended a Bluebird Event Working Group meeting. Bill Smith produced the 2013 draft Deed of Gift, which he claimed he had signed copies with a lawyer. Subsequent email from Bill Smith to Vicky Slowe said “The original is with a firm of lawyers I no longer use so I will have to request a copy and doubtless pay for the privilege but in
the meantime, I have read it and it is out of date as it fails to adequately cover the future operation of the boat. To that end I have asked my lawyers to dust off a later draft that I had drawn up when I changed from Kiltech Underwater Ltd. to Bluebird Project Ltd. and I will have this brought right up to date as a starting point for a new contract. Obviously, we will have to kick it about a little before we sign.” Subsequently Mr Smith has acknowledged the draft Deed of Gift was never signed but he had “relied” upon that document to continue the rebuild since late 2013. Bill Smiths starts to assert the “rights” of The Bluebird Project Ltd in part ownership of Bluebird K7.
26th December 2018 – Bill Smith states he would not bring Bluebird back to Coniston until he has a secured agreement on the terms he wants in place regarding Bluebird’s future.
January 2019 – the planned return event for Bluebird K7 to Coniston with the Proving Trials scheduled for July 2019 is halted. Effectively the event needs more planning and support than the group was receiving and now the ownership question was very much on the mind of the Museum.
March 2019 – The Ruskin Museum Trustees engage lawyers to gain possession of Bluebird K7, however in an effort to mediate the Campbell Family Heritage Trust tried to negotiate with BBP, hence all legal proceedings were paused at this stage by the Museum. We must point out that nothing ever went to court and no legal rulings were ever made. Again, in an effort to mediate a “without prejudice meeting was held
in July 2019 between the Campbell Family Heritage Trust, The Coniston Institute & Ruskin Museum Trustees and representatives of The Bluebird Project Ltd. From that a proposal was made to The Bluebird Project Ltd, outlining a possible way forward, including a facility for running Bluebird K7 for up to 3 months a year. This proposal was refused by return and subsequent efforts by the Museum to get further meetings
and some negotiation underway were declined. (see 6th July 2019)
14th April 2019 – The Bluebird Project sends an open letter wishing to challenge the legal claim and stating they would be returning to Bute that July to run again on Loch Fad. A civil response explaining that the museum needs to honour the Deed of Gift etc., and a mistake regarding the army regiment Bill Smith had lined up to re-install the slipway at Loch Fad was responded to thus: “We are not interested in working
with you any longer so as of tomorrow’s workshop session we shall begin removing that which is ours from K7 to separate it from the wreckage you were given in 2006. Once this process is complete you can come and remove your property and we will build new to replace it in order that we can carry on the Bluebird Project without you.”
July 6th 2019 – Without Prejudice meeting (see above). Although on a Without Prejudice basis, Bill Smith has waived the Without Prejudice confidentiality associated by broadcasting elements of the meeting and draft document on social media.
September 15th 2019 – draft agreement emailed to Bill Smith & BBP for consideration
September 16th 2019 – Bill Smith rejects by return the draft agreement offering 3 months under BBP control per year, subject to reasonable conditions. Bill Smith then started asking questions about the strength of the floor in the Bluebird Wing, saying it would not be strong enough, claiming having spoken to the original Architect (retired some time ago), the contractors (went out of business in 2018) and the structural engineers. The Museum’s discussions with the structural engineers suggest that Bill Smith had not spoken to them at all, their calculations from their records of what happened at the time give a very large margin for error and are at least as strong as specified, a specification process we believe Bill Smith were involved in.
Bill also advised the Museum that “you need to be looking into what compliance with IIR17 you need to house Cold-War era radium instruments and magnesium-thorium castings as part of the collection”. When this was aired recently Bill Smith claimed, on social media that BBP commissioned a report to deal with any of those questions and the engines had all been checked for and found not to contain Thorium. The Museum has never seen this report.
September 17th 2019 – BBP arranges an trip to see the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – three Trustees and a member of CFHT attended, to view the concept of living heritage aircraft (in this case) being in full flying state of repair – Spitfires, Lancaster, and Hurricanes. Dialogue to & fro between Ruskin Museum & Bill Smith continues throughout.
January 4th 2020 – Gina Campbell implores BBP to return K7 to her “rightful owners” and for her to be put on display in The Ruskin Museum
February 7th 2020 – The BBP Ltd served “Letters before Action” on each of the individual Trustees, threatening them with court action if they did not accede to the demands of made in the 2013 draft “agreement”, (see 7th November 2018) The letter effectively put the personal assets of each and every Trustee at risk.
March 2020 – Covid-19 closes the Museum, along with most public spaces.
September 2020 – after Bill Smith announces he intends to go back to Bute with Bluebird K7 in 2021, the Museum writes to The (now late) Marquess of Bute pointing out the legal difficulties regarding Bluebird K7 and that The Bluebird Project Ltd neither has the right nor the permission from The Museum to run the craft. The Marquess responds to The Museum in support of The Bluebird Project Ltd.
November 5th 2020 – BBP had requested another meeting to discuss the future of K7. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this had to take place over Zoom. The Ruskin Museum advised BBP representatives on 31st October that as whatever the Museum agreed to had to be approved by the Campbell Family Heritage Trust, as the donors of Bluebird K7, they would also be attending the Zoom meeting. The Ruskin Museum
requested that it be a without prejudice meeting which BBP agree to, however a few
hours before the meeting Museums’ Vice Chair is contacted by BBC News asking about the meeting taking place that evening and said he had been informed of it by Bill Smith. Regardless the meeting went ahead with 2 of BBP’s representatives, Jordan Aspin (Chairing) & Peter Roper-Hall but it became apparent that they were not up to date with the issues and didn’t have the authority to make decisions on BBP’s behalf. Ruskin Museum realised the meeting was a waste of time and after months of trying to mediate and negotiate we were no further forward. During negotiations to set up this meeting, Bill Smith had emailed the Vice-chair of Trustees, admitting that his representatives were “not privy to the legal side of things”
February 24th 2021 – Bill Smith emails Ruskin Museum’s Chair formally withdrawing their “2013 agreement” but also in withdrawing that went any “offer of ownership to display many years of hard work and the promise they kept to do their work at no cost to the museum” We were then informed in this same email that they intended to return to Bute in August 2022 and that they were opening up their workshop to
visitors. The RM decided it has no option other than to take legal action to ensure K7 came to the Museum as per the 2006 Deed of Gift as it had become apparent that there was no intention of handing K7 over.
March 23rd 2021 – Donald Campbell’s 100th Birthday is marked by a flypast of Coniston Water by 2 BAE Systems Hawk T 2 Aircraft from 4 AC Squadron at RAF Valley. Flying South to North, their top speed along the length of the lake was 480 mph. The Pilots said they thought “Donald would approve.” Everyone gathered at the Bluebird Café to watch was certainly impressed!
June 23rd 2021 – The Museum’s legal team sends a formal letter of claim to Short Richardson & Forth, representing Bill Smith and The Bluebird Project Ltd as two separate defendants. In an effort to prevent a lengthy and costly court battle the concept of giving the museum the original parts which were salvaged from Coniston Water, plus any new parts incorporated into the restored K7 under the law of Accession. As an alternative, the Museum would claim for the fully restored boat.
June 25th 2021 – Bill Smith replies personally (not via his lawyers), repeating his offer to dismantle the boat, keep what BBP believed were “their” parts and build a replica, and allow the Museum to pick up “their” element of K7.
June 27th 2021 – The Ruskin Museum is contacted by Mr Geoff Beck who explains that the Orpheus Jet Engine currently fitted to Bluebird is actually his property and has been on loan to the Bill Smith for the purposes of powering Bluebird since 2007. The Museum is unaware of this arrangement and concedes that in this case, the Museum makes no claim on that engine, unless Mr Beck felt subsequently that the
Museum could in fact have that engine on loan under a similar agreement. August 26th 2021 – Bill Smith in response to Museum lawyers agrees only to carry out essential maintenance on Bluebird K7, pending resolution of the ongoing dispute
September 17th 2021 – The Ruskin Museum writes an open letter to Bill Smith and members of the Bluebird Project with 2 proposals in open dialogue. Firstly offer up Bluebird restored and complete (but without the loan engine), or if the only way Bill Smith & BBP can see to rectify the situation is to remove the parts that they believed were entirely their own – i.e. not original parts or parts that had become part of the original via accession, and the Museum would get Bluebird re-restored. available here:- https://ruskinmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Open-Letter-to-BBP.pdf
We use the open letter format so as to be transparent to both the general public and to members of BBP who we believe are not always kept fully informed.
September 18th 2021 – BBP Tweets that it is about to start to dismantle Bluebird K7. There are news features regarding the exercise and BBP are filmed removing certain parts.
September 24th 2021 – Ruskin Museum sends a further open letter re-stating its position and offering BBP members the potential opportunity to continue to work on Bluebird should they wish once the Museum has taken physical possession. Available here:- https://ruskinmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Open-Letter-to-BBP-24.09.21.pdf
October 15th 2021 – Bill Smith emails the Museum Trustees stating “The public, via social media and direct communication has made it very clear that they don’t want to see K7 dismantled. Nor do they want to see a new boat under construction by BB or the Ruskin Museum attempting to do what has already been done by BB in converting portions of K7 into a complete boat.” It is unclear how far the dismantling process had got, but it seems it had halted relatively quickly. Similarly, the Ruskin Museum has not been aware of the apparent public outcry to the degree suggested.
November 2nd 2021 – “Magneto” Magazine holds a briefing session at the RAC Club, London. Don Wales from CFHT, Jeff Carroll from Ruskin Museum, Clive Robertson, lawyer for the museum, Bill Smith attended by Zoom, the event was chaired by Neil Sheppard, Campbell Author. Many areas were discussed during the almost 1.5 hour session. Bill Smith invited the Museum to “Put something tasty on the table” meaning an agreement whereby BBP could run and maintain the boat. link to the video from this briefing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYLiecpfoXs
November 18th 2021 – The Ruskin Museum issues another open letter reiterating the Museum’s position and again offers the opportunity for some members of BBP to continue under the Museum’s possession of Bluebird K7. https://ruskinmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Letter-to-BBP-18th-November-2021.pdf
November 26th 2021 – BBP diary post asking Trustees to confirm the “offers & deals” proposed to BBP over the years, this in response to a post made by Gina Campbell on social media. Link here:- https://www.bluebirdproject.info/post/a-question-for-the-ruskin-museum-trustees
November 26-27th 2021 – Storm Arwen hits the UK, Coniston is especially badly affected with many trees down, causing disruption to road access as well as .72 hour power outage, which delays the Museum’s response.
December 3rd 2021 – Ruskin Museum responds to BBP request :- https://ruskinmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Letter-to-BBP-03.12.21.pdf
January 4th 2022 – as part of marking the 55th Anniversary of Donald Campbell’s fatal accident, Gina Campbell unveils the fully restored Long Wheel Base Land Rover used in the 1960 and 1964 World land Speed record efforts. The vehicle is on long term loan from The Hadwin Family following full restoration by Eric Hadwin
January 24th 2022 – Ruskin Museum sends a further open letter to BBP, requesting complete stop to any further work on Bluebird K7. The creation of a new on-board compressed air start system and other “jobs” were outside what was required under “essential Maintenance”. The letter can be found here: https://ruskinmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Letter-to-BBP-24.01.22.pdf
March 23rd 2022 – the Centenary year of Donald Campbell’s birth is marked by Campbell 100 Finale, an evening with Gina Campbell and a showing of David de Lara’s film – “Remembering Donald”, a buffet evening with a Q&A session with Gina & Anthony “Robbie” Robinson.
1st July 2022 – 2 x 803 mark Orpheus Engines are donated to the Museum by French-based Company, Global Hardware. BBP immediately states these will not fit in Bluebird. Museum investigations strongly suggest there is no issue.
August 10th 2022 – BBP announce an alliance with Baton of Hope – a suicide prevention group, stating that they intend to run Bluebird K7 in their support.
November 29th 2022 – BBP announces it will be attending a Straightliners event at Elvington near York on the weekend of 25/26th February 2023
December 8th 2022 – The Museum writes to Baton of Hope and Straightliners organisations to advise that BBP is not authorised to take Bluebird k7 to the event at Elvington. It further publicly announces the fact. https://ruskinmuseum.com/update-8th-december-2022/
January 4th 2023 – the 56th anniversary of Donald Campbell’s fatal crash is marked by Donald’s family, friends and admirers including members of the Speed Record Club at the Campbell Memorial and Donald’s graveside. Bill Smith attends, as far as we are aware for the first time.
January 23rd 2023 – BBP Twitter (now X) alleges that due to newspaper reports from 1967 that due to a pay out from the insurers to Donald’s estate, the boat wasn’t Tonia’s to donate to CFHT and then onto the Museum. During this period, the Museum’s legal team is preparing the Particulars of Claim to issue in the High Court. The claims regarding Donald Campbell’s Estate not having title to Bluebird K7 delays serving the papers by approximately 2 weeks while extensive due diligence was done in corroborating evidence supporting the family’s title to K7. The Insurance Company did make a payment to his estate, to the value of
the insurance policy valued at £25,000, less the excess of £100.00, but also withholding the policy premium which had not been paid. It is difficult to imagine that happening in today’s world (worth approx. £570K in 2024) The High Court also ruled that Bluebird K7 belonged to Donald’s Estate, and therefore to Tonia Bern-Campbell High Court Order 10th September 2001
February 23rd 2023 – The Ruskin Museum’s legal team issues the sealed claim form and particulars of claim on Bill Smith and The Bluebird Project Ltd as two separate defendants. The legal claim details the case the Museum and why its legal Team believe BBP has no rights in the property. The claim runs to 111 clauses and includes proof of ownership of Bluebird K7 by Donald’s estate, the deed of variation to gift K7 to the CFHT and the deed of Gift and further confirmatory Deed of Gift giving full title to Bluebird K7 to the Ruskin Museum amongst other legal arguments The papers are filed with the High Court in London. That evening Straightliners contacted The Museum Vice-Chair to request permission for BBP to take Bluebird K7 to Elvington. Straightliners representative is directed to the Museum’s legal team. BBP did not take K7 to Elvington. This was not a deliberately timed act on behalf of the Museum as has been suggested. This was unfortunate timing and was delayed due to the reasons stated above.
March 8th 2023 – Lawyers for Bill Smith & BBP, Spencer West (representing both defendants) acknowledge legal papers have been served and further asserting that the case should be heard in Newcastle, rather than London. They also ask for an extension to the deadline by which their defence must be lodged.
March 20th 2023 – on behalf of the Museum, is lawyers agree to an extension of 28 days (the very maximum that can be granted without the Courts permission) on the submission of defence and proposes that the venue for the case, if it is to be moved, should be Manchester.
April 20th 2023 -signed defence received from Bills Smith & BBP’s legal team.
May 24th 2023 – The Museum’s legal team is successful in having the case listed at Manchester instead of London. Bill Smith/BBP’s legal team write to the court insisting that the matter be transferred
to Newcastle.
June 9th 2023 – Court agrees to transfer the matter to Newcastle based on a number of factors, not least the insistence by BBP/Bill Smith legal team that there will need to be an inspection of Bluebird K7.
July 27th 2023 – Bill Smith /BBP Legal Team files an application for Security For Costs – a defendant has the right to question a claimant’s ability to pay costs should the claimants lose the case and have an adverse costs order made against them.
August 22nd 2023 – Security For Costs (SFC) hearing is adjourned due to Judicial unavailability …re-scheduled for September 5th.
August 31st 2023 – in anticipation of a SFC order against the Museum, a GoFundMe crowd funding appeal is launched to help meet any SFC order and generally support the Museum to fund the legal case.
September 5th 2023 – BBP/Bill Smiths SFC application is partially successful – they requested £69K be lodged with court for security and a further almost £20K in costs. In the event the Museum was ordered to pay ~£12K in costs and lodge £36K with court by 16th November. The museum complied with the order. Costs & Case Management Conference (CCMC) is set for 23rd November. This is a further step in the litigation process where an exchange of information e.g. Costs Budgets is made between the claimants’ and defendants’ legal teams.
October 11th 2023 – formal mediation takes place between the museum and BBP/Bill Smith. Parties do not meet but are in the same building and lawyers & mediator shuttle between various rooms to try to find common ground and expand upon any common goals. Mediation finishes with some progress but no deal is reached.
October 26th 2023 – further mediation is undertaken via Zoom. BBP/Bill Smith’s side try to progress without mediator, but in the event the mediator did attend and manage the proceedings.
October 30th 2023 – Greg Pipe, barrister contacts the Museum and offers his services on a Conditional Fee Arrangement (CFA) – “No Win-No Fee”
November 3rd 2023 – agreement from Defendants to request a stay on the CCMC pending outcome of ongoing mediation. The revised CCMC date is set for 8th February 2024, which an exchange of Costs
Budgets to take place 14 days before – i.e. 25th January 2024.
November 23rd 2023 – museum deposits £36K into court as SFC up to and including the CCMC.
December 13th 2023 – museum lawyers write to Bill Smith/BBP lawyers to advise them of breaches of Mediation Privilege on the part of Bill Smith. Before entering into formal mediation, forms have to be signed to agree that the discussions are under Mediation Privilege and hence should not be discussed outside those actually involved as either claimant, defendant, or legal representative of either / both. It was clear from information received that Bill Smith had breached that agreement, as well as various posts on Twitter/X, where it appears BBP is trying to circumvent the formal mediation process.
The Museum receives requests from Bill Smith via various individuals to take the mediation back to an informal basis not involving lawyers. The museum declines these offers in an effort to maintain formal mediation through the parties’ representatives as required
January 25th 2024 – Exchange of information ahead of the CCMC, including Costs Budgets.
January 26th 2024 – Museum lawyers receive an initial settlement offer with a draft “Tomlin Order”:- Further negotiations ensue.
February 7th 2024 – a finalised “Tomlin Order” is signed by both parties and lodged with court to bring the litigation to a close.
February 8th 2024 – Tomlin Order accepted and sealed by court in Newcastle. Irrespective of any situation before this Order was signed, Bluebird K7 is now the property of The Ruskin Museum in its entirety. (not including the engine which was removed.) – available here: Tomlin Order 2024
March 9th 2024 – Bluebird makes her way from North Shields to Coniston. The trip is met with photographers and well-wishers in lay-bys and on bridges, an impromptu stop at Tebay Services is met with much interest. At Greenodd where the team had hoped to have a last stop and check GoPro cameras were all set correctly, it was impossible to get a park for the convoy, so there was a short stop at Lowick to
ensure all was well. The crowds at Torver were impressive with everyone wanting to get their picture taken with Bluebird. Then onto Coniston, where a short pause just outside the village, while a Shire
horse and a Piper followed Gina Campbell and her partner Brian Eastham. Bluebird K7was then slowly carried into the decorated village to literally thousands of well-wishers, waving Union Jack flags with the piper playing “The Campbells are Coming”, people had come from all over the UK to witness the event. The boat is skilfully moved into a position to be pushed into the Museum by the crew from Steeles Removals Ltd (hauliers) and eventually moved into her home within the Bluebird Wing.
March 11th 2024 – BBC North West Tonight is hosted by the Museum and K7 features heavily in the broadcast
March 17th 2024 – Private preview afternoon for people who helped either financially or materially with the campaign the Bring Bluebird home.
March 18th 2024 – “Locals day” – a day where anyone with an LA21 Postcode can come & see Bluebird prior to opening to the general public.
March 19th 2024 – BBC The One Show is broadcast from the Museum
March 28th 2024 – Museum’s representatives writes to Bill Smith/ BBP legal team to advise on a significant list of parts which appear to have been withheld despite the legal order being in place, constituting a breach of that order.
March 29th 2024 – Museum receives a response claiming there has been no breach and requesting further extensive details. We therefore publish the Tomlin order signing Bluebird K7 to the Museum. This is a
record within the public domain.
Below is the Deed of Gift that was signed in 2006. This document officially donates Bluebird K7 to The Ruskin Museum and also shows that the intention was to restore her, and put her on display in The Ruskin Museum, and The Tomlin Order which was signed by Bill Smith in 2024 abiding by the terms within the document.