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The return of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to the spot where the adventurer set his first water speed world record 70 years ago is “humbling”, his daughter says.
Campbell clocked 202.32mph (325.6km/h) aboard the hydroplane at Ullswater, in the Lake District, in 1955 and the craft has been on show near Glenridding Pier for the day to mark the milestone.
Gina Campbell said her father had shown resilience to set the record at a time when many experts believed a boat could not reach such a speed without breaking up.
He died in 1967 when Bluebird somersaulted on Coniston Water, also in the Lake District, as he attempted to push one of his subsequent records past 300mph (480km/h).
Reflecting on the record’s anniversary, Ms Campbell said: “It’s really humbling after all these years [to see the interest in] what my father achieved, and to see that he still has a such a huge following.
“I have to pinch myself each time and say what a legacy he has left for me, my family and our nation.
“Looking at doing 200mph on water 70 years ago, it almost seems inconceivable.
“For him to have gone on and broken further records, I always say he must have had a heart of absolute steel.”
Tracy Hodgson, director of Coniston’s Ruskin Museum which normally houses Bluebird in a dedicated wing, said the event was an opportunity to see a “very special piece of British high-speed motoring history”.
She added: “Ullswater will always be a special place in the Campbell story, and we are honoured to be able to display Bluebird K7 at Glenridding Pier close to where she was first launched 70 years ago.”
The event was held in partnership with Ullswater Steamers, which provides cruises on the lake.
An anniversary commentary was used on selected sailings, giving people the opportunity to see two buoys marking out the measured mile used to set the record.
The Ruskin Museum is aiming to run Bluebird again on Coniston Water at some point next year when it will be piloted by Australian Dave Warby, son of the late-water speed world-record holder Ken Warby.
The craft’s wreckage was recovered from Coniston Water in 2001 and rebuilt by a team of engineers on Tyneside.
It was handed over to the Ruskin Museum last year following the resolution of a years-long ownership row with the man who led its restoration.
