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Donald Campbell's daughter marks 50th anniversary of Bluebird crash | Donald Campbell's daughter marks 50th anniversary of Bluebird crash |
(35 minutes later) | |
The daughter of record-breaker Donald Campbell has placed flowers at the spot where he died on Coniston Water 50 years ago. | The daughter of record-breaker Donald Campbell has placed flowers at the spot where he died on Coniston Water 50 years ago. |
Gina Campbell said she was "humbled" his achievements were still recognised, half a century on from his death. | Gina Campbell said she was "humbled" his achievements were still recognised, half a century on from his death. |
She and former friends and colleagues took to the water as part of several days of events to mark the anniversary. | She and former friends and colleagues took to the water as part of several days of events to mark the anniversary. |
Campbell died at 08:51 GMT on 4 January 1967, while trying to break his own water speed record in Bluebird. | Campbell died at 08:51 GMT on 4 January 1967, while trying to break his own water speed record in Bluebird. |
Commemorative events, including a flypast by an RAF jet, are taking place in Coniston over the next few days. | Commemorative events, including a flypast by an RAF jet, are taking place in Coniston over the next few days. |
Follow our live coverage of the anniversary | Follow our live coverage of the anniversary |
Campbell was travelling at more than 300mph (483 km/h) when the Bluebird K7 boat was catapulted 50ft (15m) into the air after its nose lifted. | Campbell was travelling at more than 300mph (483 km/h) when the Bluebird K7 boat was catapulted 50ft (15m) into the air after its nose lifted. |
The 45-year-old was killed instantly as the boat hit the water and disintegrated. | The 45-year-old was killed instantly as the boat hit the water and disintegrated. |
His remains and boat wreckage were not recovered until 2001 by engineer Bill Smith, who is restoring Bluebird at his yard in Newcastle. | His remains and boat wreckage were not recovered until 2001 by engineer Bill Smith, who is restoring Bluebird at his yard in Newcastle. |
Campbell was just 200 yards (183m) from the end of the second leg of his attempt when the crash happened. | Campbell was just 200 yards (183m) from the end of the second leg of his attempt when the crash happened. |
Ms Campbell was among a small party to take to the lake, where prayers were said at the exact time of the crash. | Ms Campbell was among a small party to take to the lake, where prayers were said at the exact time of the crash. |
She clutched her father's teddy bear mascot, Mr Whoppit, which was found among the wreckage. | She clutched her father's teddy bear mascot, Mr Whoppit, which was found among the wreckage. |
A public remembrance service also took place at his memorial on the village green, before more wreaths were laid at Coniston Cemetery. | |
She said: "My dad did not do things for public display but I think he would be delighted to see the public here today. | She said: "My dad did not do things for public display but I think he would be delighted to see the public here today. |
"I feel so humbled and honoured that what my father achieved all those years ago is still remembered in the way it is. | "I feel so humbled and honoured that what my father achieved all those years ago is still remembered in the way it is. |
"If my father could have chosen a way to die it would have been this way. | "If my father could have chosen a way to die it would have been this way. |
"If he had died a couple of weeks ago there would have been a few paragraphs in the Daily Telegraph. But here we are in 2017 talking about a hero that I still remember as a handsome young man. | "If he had died a couple of weeks ago there would have been a few paragraphs in the Daily Telegraph. But here we are in 2017 talking about a hero that I still remember as a handsome young man. |
"The enormity of what he did I just didn't grasp for a long time. I never quite appreciated the magnitude of what he did. | "The enormity of what he did I just didn't grasp for a long time. I never quite appreciated the magnitude of what he did. |
"I'm so pleased and proud it's not just old fogies like me that have been inspired by what he did. It's young people too." | "I'm so pleased and proud it's not just old fogies like me that have been inspired by what he did. It's young people too." |
She recalled receiving the news of her father's death while she was working abroad. | She recalled receiving the news of her father's death while she was working abroad. |
She said: "On the day he died I was working in a ski resort and got a message there was a phone call for me. | She said: "On the day he died I was working in a ski resort and got a message there was a phone call for me. |
"I had to go down to the hotel phone to be told my father had died. It was slightly surreal, but somehow I knew. | "I had to go down to the hotel phone to be told my father had died. It was slightly surreal, but somehow I knew. |
"In those days you didn't get phone calls abroad unless it was bad news. | "In those days you didn't get phone calls abroad unless it was bad news. |
"My mind just went to nothing. It went blank. | "My mind just went to nothing. It went blank. |
"I had never really feared for my father's life because he always came home. It was always the reward that counted and not the risk." | "I had never really feared for my father's life because he always came home. It was always the reward that counted and not the risk." |
Donald Campbell | Donald Campbell |
Paul Hannaford, chairman of the Speed Record Club, which has jointly organised the anniversary events, said Campbell's achievements would "never be equalled." | Paul Hannaford, chairman of the Speed Record Club, which has jointly organised the anniversary events, said Campbell's achievements would "never be equalled." |
He said: "Donald Campbell was a great patriot and a very brave man. | He said: "Donald Campbell was a great patriot and a very brave man. |
"His world speed records on land and on water in the same calendar year will never be bettered. | "His world speed records on land and on water in the same calendar year will never be bettered. |
"To many of us he is an absolute hero and never did anything for personal gain. It was always about prestige and advancing British engineering. | "To many of us he is an absolute hero and never did anything for personal gain. It was always about prestige and advancing British engineering. |
"He wanted nothing more than to showcase what Britain could do best, which was so important in the late 1940s when the country was still recovering from the war. | "He wanted nothing more than to showcase what Britain could do best, which was so important in the late 1940s when the country was still recovering from the war. |
"What we're doing at Coniston is a celebration of a great man's achievements." | "What we're doing at Coniston is a celebration of a great man's achievements." |
Donald Campbell took up the mantle of his father Sir Malcolm Campbell, who died in 1948 and had also broken speed records. | Donald Campbell took up the mantle of his father Sir Malcolm Campbell, who died in 1948 and had also broken speed records. |
In 1955 he famously told reporters: "If you're going to succeed, you've got put what you're trying to do first. Way before your own comfort, way before your own pleasure and way before your own family considerations." | In 1955 he famously told reporters: "If you're going to succeed, you've got put what you're trying to do first. Way before your own comfort, way before your own pleasure and way before your own family considerations." |
It is hoped a restored Bluebird will take to Coniston Water again later this year or in 2018. | It is hoped a restored Bluebird will take to Coniston Water again later this year or in 2018. |