Coachmakers see Bluebird K7 on Coniston

A party of 24 Coachmakers made their way to the historic Windermere Manor Hotel, set in its beautiful gardens, for three days of the Bluebird Festival to see the famous Bluebird K7 run again on Coniston Water.

This was to be the first time the craft had run on Coniston since the fatal crash in 1967 which killed its famous owner Donald Campbell CBE. This event was 11 years in the planning and the excitement was palpable.

Unfortunately, due to technical issues and the weather, the famous hydroplane only made it up onto the plane once during a week which saw thousands of people from across the UK and around the world, descending on Coniston to see it in action once again.

Our Coachmaker group travelled from Windermere to Coniston on Saturday 16th May after Bluebird K7 made its one and only 100mph run on Friday 15th May with the expectation of seeing it repeat what it had achieved, but it was not to be.

We were hosted by the wonderful Bluebird Café, on the shores of the lake with a perfect view of the slipway where K7 was slowly lowered into the water so many times with anticipation that the hydroplane would once again run at speed. Unfortunately, Bluebird K7 suffered from numerous technical issues, and at the end of the week the weather was also not on the side of the organisers, who had spent months putting the event together.

We were also entertained in the café by an impromptu visit by Bill Smith, the engineer and diver who located K7 in 145 feet of water, and who shared his views of the week’s events.

The Coachmakers did however get up and close to Bluebird in the preparation area, met pilot Dave Warby and got to hold the steering wheel of the famous craft! We met Neil Sheppard, author of the book ‘Donald Campbell: Bluebird and the Final Record Attempt’ and while staying at the Windermere Manor Hotel we had a fascinating evening with Don Wales, Malcolm Campbell’s grandson and Donald Campbell’s nephew, who told us about the Campbell family dynasty.

The following day we travelled to the Inn on the Lake at Ullswater for a splendid Sunday lunch and thereafter a trip up and down the lake on the Ullswater steamer.

Despite the disappointment of not seeing K7 at high speed, we all had a memorable weekend and the sight of K7 and the sound of that jet engine will live with us for a long time.

A special thank you must go to Freeman David Barzilay and his assistant Ella for arranging all the aspects of this special weekend.