Bluebird K7 finally goes ‘home’
The long-running legal wrangle over the future of Bluebird K7has been resolved, with Donald Campbell’s record-breaking jet hydroplane set to return to the Ruskin Museum, Coniston. There it will go back on display alongside its original engine in the museum’s dedicated Bluebird wing.
Bluebird K7– in which Campbell died in January 1967 – was recovered from Coniston Water in March 2001 and the Campbell Family Heritage Trust donated it to the Ruskin Museum in 2006, so it could be returned to its former glory and put on permanent display.
Gina Campbell, daughter of Donald Campbell CBE, said: ‘We are delighted Bluebird K7is coming home. It has taken many years of hard work by The Ruskin Museum to achieve our original gift of K7 so that it can be put on display there. We must not forget the many volunteers who gave their time, money and support to rebuild K7 to her former glory. We are very grateful to them all.
‘Bluebird K7belongs to the nation and she is a very important part of Coniston’s heritage – and Britain’s. It gives the family peace to know that Bluebird is coming home and that future generations will be able to learn about Donald Campbell CBE and his achievements. It seems only fitting, given that 2024 marks 60 years since my father achieved the unique feat of setting land and water speed records in the same year.’
Event updates
This year’s Heveningham Concours in Suffolk will take place on 28-30 June and promises the usual star-studded line-up on the ground and in the air; while creative show Sleeping With Art has announced that it will happen on 5-6 October at Escapade Silverstone. The dates for the 2024 Silverstone festival will be 23-25 August, while Shelsley Walsh’s Nostalgia festival is on 20-21 July. Meanwhile, the theme for the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed (11-14 July) will be ‘Horseless to Hybrid – Revolutions in Power’, and the Revival (6-8 September) will honour the late, great John Surtees. Finally, the Royal Automobile Club Summer Veteran Car Run – a shakedown for the London-Brighton Run – will take place on 18 July.
McLarens in the City
A fleet of 50 McLarens is scheduled to be a special attraction at this year’s London Concours. Supported by event sponsor McLaren London, the one-off display will take place on the show’s opening day, Tuesday 4 June, with the supercars shown alongside concours entrants.
Classes for this year’s event, which runs during 6-8 June, include the legendary V12
