Donald Campbell and Bluebird are synonymous in the world of Water Speed Records. But how many people are familiar with Donald's very first Water Speed Record, set on another stretch of water, where Wordsworth first saw his "host of golden daffodils"?
On the 28th January 1955, the newly built Bluebird K7 was under Police escort, wending her way through leafy lanes and slipping quietly into the picturesque village of Glenridding in Westmoreland.
A newly built boathouse and railed slipway at the southern end of the lake was to be home to the new, slightly hump-back shaped Bluebird, and Donald had moved into a furnished house in Glenridding. By the setting sun, Ullswater's peacefulness was shattered by throngs of people hoping to catch a glimpse of Campbell and Bluebird.
Bluebird was designed by Ken and Lewis Norris at their office in Haywards Heath,in Surrey. (Ken was to be an integral part of the Bluebird Team in most if not all the future attempts). Samlesbury Engineering Ltd of Blackburn, had the privilege of building her.
Bluebird’s body was made of a high-duty light alloy hull built around a high-tensile tubular steel frame, held together by some 70,000 rivets. She weighed 2½ tons, and was powered by a Metropolitan Vickers "Beryl" turbo jet engine capable of producing 4000 lbs of static thrust, spinning at 8000 revs per minute. She was 26ft 4 ¾ ins in length, had a 10ft 6ins beam, and was a mere 4ft 8ins in height. The planing shoes were fixed to the underside of the floats and the rear wedge of the main hull, allowing the craft to ride the water horizontally at three points.
Donald’s helmet had radio-telephone contact with the shore, ensuring running commentary throughout the trials and warning of any imminent danger. The cost of the new craft was in the region of £25-£30,000.
On the 11th of February, Donald’s 2nd wife, Dorothy, christened Bluebird with a quart bottle of champagne. Her words were,
"I name this boat Bluebird - May God Bless her pilot and all who work on her".
Bluebird was then towed out onto the calm waters of Ullswater with Donald at the helm, to start in earnest her first slow speed trial runs. By the end of the following day, Bluebird was clocking up speeds of up to 150mph - not bad for her “running-in” period.
At low speed Bluebird was experiencing problems. Before she could reach the planing position, water spray was being sucked back into the engine, resulting in flame-out, so intake shields were fitted to deflect the spray.
After a few months of teething problems, frustration, disappointments and necessary modifications, Bluebird was finally ready for her debut performance.
Donald was all too aware of the speculation surrounding the unknown and unconquered 200mph "Water Barrier". To some it was a real danger, to others just a myth, but the press made the most of it. After all, John Cobb's Crusader disintegrated at Loch Ness in September 1952, having just crossed the 200 mile Water Barrier with a first run over the measured mile at 206.8mph. On his record attempt in October 1954 on Lago d'Iseo, the Italian Mario Verga crossed “The Barrier” and at a speed in excess of 200mph, perished.
Were these men victims of the phenomenal "Water Barrier" syndrome? Could Donald Campbell with his boat Bluebird break the spell, or would he too become a victim?
On the 23rd July the sky was laden with dark grey clouds, and, although the wind had abated, there was an icy chill hanging in the air over the still water surface. It was also the last day on which the timekeepers could be present for several weeks. Despite a sense of foreboding, a record attempt was on.
Donald was not at his best, and was feeling rather listless. His back was giving him hell, and the sharp jabbing pains were a constant reminder of an injury sustained during his rugby football days. However, Donald was not the sort of man to disappoint, and so with true grit and determination he assembled his team by the boathouse in readiness for the attempt. Leo Villa was Course Controller, and with his son, Tim, set off in their patrol boat to be near the shore at the northern end of the kilometre. Bill Coley and his son Christopher would be in a patrol boat near the start of the measured kilo. Andrew Brown would be at the refuelling point, and Dr Armstrong with the officials, shared a boat in the centre of the course. The timekeepers were in position, standing by their white painted iron marker posts.
An hour later the waiting is over, the wakes have died down and Donald is zipping himself into blue overalls. Sliding down into his seat he slipped on his pressure breathing mask and helmet. He followed through with his cockpit checks, then received the okay via Leo that the water is perfect.
Maurice places the cockpit canopy in place and secures the latches. After the final checks and thumbs-up from Maurice, Donald presses the starter button. Bluebird's engine purrs gently at first then gives way to a throaty growling whine, the roar reverberates around the valley, and beyond. Bluebird glides gently through the water up to the start of her intended course, her speed is approximately 60-70mph. Visibility is clear despite it being overcast. The water has settled and Bluebird is ready. Donald increases acceleration, the revs go up and Bluebird is skimming across the water, fair flying through the measured kilo, leaving a rooster tail of spray behind her.
Donald is unsure of his speed but is confident she passed the 200mph mark, but he can't make contact with Leo, something appears wrong with the link-up system. He eases off the throttle then cuts the power to let her drift towards the refuelling point. Donald learns that the aerial connection had snapped off on the run down, but there's no time to replace the boat-to-shore communications system.
Bluebird's tank is now full again, and Donald is strapped into the cockpit once more. The cockpit checks are carried out and the engine roars into life. Donald steers the boat into position and Bluebird sets off again.
The revs increase and Donald steadies her to keep her on course. There's no running commentary except in his own mind, going through the paces. She thunders on… through the measured kilometre... pitching a bit but no more than a quarter to a half degree...easing off, slowing down...pressure's off.
With stiff back and aching limbs, Donald eases himself gently out of the boat and is congratulated by Leo, his wife Dorothy, and his mother and sister Jean - They’d done it.
It was a momentous day. Donald had achieved a new World Water Speed Record.
The Marine Motoring Association confirmed the speeds as:-
Donald had beaten the American, Stanley Sayers’, record of 178.497 mph.
Donald had indeed made history that day. He was the first man ever to exceed 200mph on water and pass through the "Water Barrier" unscathed.
Donald, his wife, mother, sister Jean and all the Team enjoyed a celebratory dinner in the Wheel Bar Club at the Glenridding Hotel.
The press and media had their story, a story which filled the papers for months to come. Television interviews also abounded, and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce presented Donald with a Golden Urn for his courage and scientific achievements. In 1957, he became Donald Campbell CBE.
On October 1997, a small gathering of people came to Glenridding on a gloriously warm sunny day to pay honour to the man whose vision, perseverance and courage had taken him through the "Water Barrier and Beyond". Forty-two years on from that spectacular event, Donald's daughter Gina unveiled a plaque on the shores of Ullswater in memory of her father's achievement.
The ceremony was hosted by the Glenridding Hotel and by Ullswater Navigation. Gina recalls she was only 9 yrs old when news broke that her father had set a new World Record. She was recovering in hospital after an operation to remove a Kirby-grip, accidentally swallowed some days earlier. In her excitement she forgot about the bowl of tomato soup she was holding in her lap, whooping for joy at the news, sent the bowl flying in the air, we can guess the rest.
The Wheel Bar Club at the hotel is a distant memory and is now a library, which John Melling, the current owner, has dedicated to the memory of Campbell and his record.
© Dawn Sempill 2001
Acknowledgements:
“Into The Water Barrier”, by Donald Campbell with Alan W Mitchell
“BP Book Of The Racing Campbells”, by Richard Hough
“Bluebirds”, by Gina Campbell with Michael Meech
“Lakeland Reporter”, by John Hurst.
This feature article originally appeared in the Bluebirds club magazine no 2 in Summer 2001.
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