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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 22:50:09 GMT
50 years ago today since he was killed on Coniston Water .....seems incredible it's so long ago , a hero of my youth RIP Donald .
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Post by greenhoff74 on Jan 2, 2017 22:55:14 GMT
RIP Donald
Haven't they got Bluebird in a museum now because it was salvaged a few years ago, they recovered his body too.
I didn't realise that they tested Bluebird on Ullswater as well as Coniston, there's a memorial marker to it at Ullswater.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 23:04:41 GMT
I remember seeing it live on TV when I was a young boy and watching as Bluebird flipped over but I didn't really understand what had happened at the time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 23:08:34 GMT
RIP Donald Haven't they got Bluebird in a museum now because it was salvaged a few years ago, they recovered his body too. I didn't realise that they tested Bluebird on Ullswater as well as Coniston, there's a memorial marker to it at Ullswater. Yes they have .....it's being restored and they hope to run it at 100 mph across the lake as a commemoration .....they recovered his body a while after the boat was found ....his helmet too ....but his head was not recovered , speculated that he was decapitated by a shard of Perspex from the windscreen .....the impact probably kllled him before that occurred though . |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 23:12:28 GMT
I remember seeing it live on TV when I was a young boy and watching as Bluebird flipped over but I didn't really understand what had happened at the time. He was the last of his kind ....a patriotic adventurer , who would have hated how things have altered in the time since his death . |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 23:14:22 GMT
He broke more speed records than anyone else ....the only man to hold the record on land and on water at the same time .
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 23:18:35 GMT
I tried to put up a you tube video of the crash .....but you tube isn't having it tonight for me !
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 0:10:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 0:21:36 GMT
I didnt really. Like that of course |
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Post by supersimonstainrod on Jan 3, 2017 5:57:00 GMT
There's something ineffably moving and involving watching footage of yesteryear's pioneers,whether it be cricketers going out to bat in gloves with a few rubber spikes,maybe a towel wrapped around the torso for protection,Sterling Moss ét al with some flimsy leather driving gloves,goggles and a leather hat, (and subsequently Lauda's generation,) Campbell climbing into an ostensibly rickety Bluebird with typical understated courage and stoicism that always makes the efforts of today's F1 drivers,and sportsmen in general seem somehow,and unfairly,almost inadequate by comparison despite their obvious brilliance.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 6:51:43 GMT
There's something ineffably moving and involving watching footage of yesteryear's pioneers,whether it be cricketers going out to bat in gloves with a few rubber spikes,maybe a towel wrapped around the torso for protection,Sterling Moss ét al with some flimsy leather driving gloves,goggles and a leather hat, (and subsequently Lauda's generation,) Campbell climbing into an ostensibly rickety Bluebird with typical understated courage and stoicism that always makes the efforts of today's F1 drivers,and sportsmen in general seem somehow,and unfairly,almost inadequate by comparison despite their obvious brilliance. My thoughts exactly. Goodness me I could see myself as a young boy again sitting watching that accident. I remember my late mum and dad suddenly going quiet and watching without a word. I think the reality of effectively seeing someone die live on TV was an overwhelming experience for them and much more so at that time than with the 24 hr news coverage today. In comparison to technology today, with all the safety back-up and support crew etc etc etc the whole exercise looked so amateurish and just seemed like a few blokes out on a ramble who suddenly decided to have a thrash about on the lake for a lark. It just shows the grit and determination prevalent in Britain in the post-war period and into the 60's, what the hell happened to it ? |
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jan 3, 2017 7:04:09 GMT
I can actually remember what I was doing when the news broke about his death. Was his body ever found? Edit: just spotted this on the tail fin of Blue Bird and very surprised it was not picked up by journalists. An upside down Union Jack signifies distress and other bad luck. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 7:09:16 GMT
I can actually remember what I was doing when the news broke about his death. Was his body ever found? Bispham posted earlier that his body had been found, but not his head sadly. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 7:30:12 GMT
I can actually remember what I was doing when the news broke about his death. Was his body ever found? Edit: just spotted this on the tail fin of Blue Bird and very surprised it was not picked up by journalists. An upside down Union Jack signifies distress and other bad luck. View AttachmentWell spotted ! |
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Post by AlliG on Jan 3, 2017 13:30:14 GMT
I was just 8 when this happened and I can still clearly remember watching the grainy black and white footage on the old family 12" black and white telly.
It was in the days before slow motion replays and the like but one second the boat was flashing across the screen and next moment as the nose of the boat began to lift, everything just seemed to go into slow motion, the boat flipped slowly into the air and then it was gone, as though nothing had ever been there.
I think it was the moment I first realised just how fragile life is. One second it was fast, vibrant, loud and exciting; the next, nothing.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 1:46:30 GMT
I can actually remember what I was doing when the news broke about his death. Was his body ever found? Edit: just spotted this on the tail fin of Blue Bird and very surprised it was not picked up by journalists. An upside down Union Jack signifies distress and other bad luck. Well spotted ! Indeed well spotted. Lawrie |
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Post by Northy on Jan 4, 2017 7:38:33 GMT
Little did Donald know that in the future there would be a film made with a blue bird in it
Avatar
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Post by Huddysleftfoot on Jan 4, 2017 9:01:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 10:44:13 GMT
I remember watching that film when it was shown , still poignant today. |
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Post by murphthesurf on Jan 5, 2017 19:03:02 GMT
Evening, all……
Just in case anyone's interested, there's a prog on BBC4 at 11pm tonight - 'Donald Campbell: Speed King'.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 22:26:00 GMT
Evening, all…… Just in case anyone's interested, there's a prog on BBC4 at 11pm tonight - 'Donald Campbell: Speed King'. I will record that to watch when I come back ....thanks murph  |
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