Exactly 70 years after Donald Campbell shattered the 200mph barrier on water, his legendary hydroplane, Bluebird K7, has returned to Ullswater. The jet-powered boat was the centrepiece of commemorations at Glenridding Pier on 23 July, marking seven decades since Campbell set his first World Water Speed Record on the lake in 1955.
Displayed close to the location of its original launch – in the car park rather than on the water – Bluebird K7 drew thousands of visitors throughout the day. Campbell’s daughter, Gina, was among those present at the event.
In partnership with Ullswater ‘Steamers’, The Inn Collection Group, and the Ruskin Museum, the 70th anniversary celebration included on-board commentaries highlighting the original measured mile on the lake. Marker buoys were placed in position for the occasion, offering spectators a clearer sense of where history had been made.
Tracy Hodgson of the Ruskin Museum, which houses Bluebird K7 in Coniston, described the anniversary as a chance to reconnect the boat with the place where its story began. Lord Wavell Wakefield, a close friend of the Campbell family, played a pivotal role in Donald’s 1955 record attempt by providing launch facilities and a boathouse at Ullswater. His grandson, Peter Hensman, recalled visiting the site as a six-year-old and shared memories of the extraordinary activity surrounding the attempt.
The Inn On The Lake hosted a period exhibition of press cuttings and photographs charting Campbell’s 1955 achievement, while Rachel Bell of Ullswater ‘Steamers’ praised the record’s role in shaping both local heritage and the lake’s future as a tourist destination.
For more info, see ruskinmuseum.com
