Dame Susan Langley DBE, Lady Mayor Elect of London, welcomed Donald Campbell’s legendary hydroplane, Bluebird K7, to Mansion House today (7th November) before she left for her admission as Lady Mayor at the Silent Ceremony.
Dame Susan said: “Bluebird K7 is absolutely amazing and takes your breath away. I can’t wait to see her in the Show tomorrow.”
On hand to see their uncle’s famous boat arrive were his nephews Don Wales and Peter Hulme.
Peter said: “I am extremely proud to bring Bluebird to Mansion House. It is a true honour to accompany K7 in the Lady Mayors Show on Saturday, and for the people of London to be able see Bluebird close up and marvel at such an iconic piece of British engineering and design.”
Don said: “The Campbell Family is honoured that Bluebird K7 is part of the Lady Mayor’s Show. It is a great opportunity to show my uncle’s boat to not just London, but the whole country, and I am sure he would be proud. The upcoming Lady Mayor’s Show will help bring Donald Campbell’s name and achievements to a new generation.”
On Saturday (November 8th) the hydroplane will be a major feature in the Lady Mayor’s Show, which this year has attracted over seven thousand participants and will be watched by millions of people on TV around the world and on the streets of London.
Bluebird K7 is a jet engined hydroplane that was piloted by the speed ace Donald Campbell. Between 1955 and 1964 he broke the outright World Water Speed Record on seven separate occasions in Bluebird K7, four of them on Coniston Water in Cumbria. In 1964 Donald Campbell became the only person ever to break the World Water and the World Land Speed Record in the same calendar year.
The boat is housed in the Ruskin Museum in Coniston where it is visited by enthusiasts from all over the world. Next year in May, the boat will run again for the first time since Donald Campbell died trying to beat his own speed record. 2026 was chosen as it is the 70th anniversary of Donald Campbell’s first World Water Speed Record on Coniston Water.
Bluebird has been entered into the Lady Mayor’s Show by the Worshipful company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers who have worked closely with the Ruskin Museum to bring the Hydroplane to London. They are being assisted by the Worshipful Company of Carmen, who are providing back up in the form of a 100-year-old D Type bus which will convey members of the Campbell family and officials from the Ruskin Museum.
Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers, Julian Leach, said: “The Coachmakers feel very proud and privileged to be involved with Bluebird K7 and to display her during the Lady Mayor’s Show.”
The Worshipful company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers were represented at Mansion House by Past Master Julian Leach, Clerk Lt Col Craig Hallatt, Honorary Assistant David Barrett, Junior Warden Eric Wallbank, Honorary Assistant Richard Robinson and Liveryman David Barzilay. The Worshipful Company of Carmen were represented by Immediate Past Master Leon Daniels OBE.