Museum to help Speed Record Club pay tribute to record-breaker Donald Campbell

Anthony Hopkins as Donald Campbell with the replica of the 1967 jet hydroplane Bluebird K7, used in the feature film ‘Across the

Speed Record Club to commemorate 50 years since Campbell’s tragic death on Coniston Water (4 January 1967)

Special ‘Across the Lake’ display to run (4-7 January 2017) at the museum

The Lakeland Motor Museum will help celebrate the achievements of record-breaker Donald Campbell this January, exactly 50 years on from his death.Campbell - who broke eight world speed records on both water and land in the 1950s and 1960s - is already immortalised in the Museum’s special ‘Campbell Bluebird Exhibition’ which houses a full-sized replica of the 1967 jet hydroplane Bluebird K7. The replica was used in the 1988 film ‘Across the Lake’ which saw Hollywood star Anthony Hopkins take the lead role as Donald Campbell in the run-up to his final ill-fated record attempt on Coniston Water.

To mark the 50th anniversary week of Campbell’s death, the Museum will host a special four-day ‘Across the Lake’ display (Weds 4 - Sat 7 January 2017) featuring ‘behind the scenes’ photos from the film. It has been put together by the Speed Record Club, as part of a series of events it is organising that week.

Members of the club are also planning to bring some of the film’s supporting cast to the attraction on Saturday 7 January (11am-2pm) for a special visit. That includes actor Mark Stratton who played Campbell’s close friend and team member Anthony "Robbie" Robinson. He will also meet the real Robbie at the event, and it’s hoped they will be joined by Campbell’s daughter Gina.

Chris Lowe, Manager of the Lakeland Motor Museum, says, “We’re very proud to have been included in the Speed Record Club's programme of events to pay tribute to record-breaker Donald Campbell. His name is synonymous with the Lake District and his story truly is the stuff of legend.”

Phil Evans, from the Speed Record Club, says, “We’re looking forward to staging this display at the Lakeland Motor Museum, giving both our VIP guests and members of the public a unique perspective on this very special man. ‘Across the Lake’ was filmed and released some 21 years after Campbell's accident and before the boat was subsequently rediscovered and raised in 2001. The film both introduced a new generation to the Campbell story and also reconfirmed his place in the national psyche with an excellent performance by Anthony Hopkins.”

As well as celebrating the achievements of Donald Campbell, the Lakeland Motor Museum’s permanent Campbell Bluebird Exhibition also charts the career of his father Sir Malcom Campbell, including replicas of his 1935 Blue Bird car and 1939 Blue Bird Boat K4.