Andy Kershaw interviews Gina Campbell at The Ruskin Museum for the centenary of Donald Campbell CBE

The full official video of Gina Campbell being interviewed by Andy Kershaw, used with kind permission of The Ruskin Museum.
Gina Campbell chats to Andy Kershaw about her life and memories of growing up with her father 'Speed King', Donald Campbell CBE, as we celebrate what would have been his 100th Birthday - 23rd March 2021. A true national hero and very much loved by so many. He is still the only person to hold both Land and Water Speed Records in the same year!
#DonaldCampbell #Bluebirdk7 #TheRuskinMuseum
This interview also includes questions submitted by members of the public.
The Ruskin Museum:
www.ruskinmuse...
Photographs by Don Wales:
www.donwaleswe...
Music: 'Twinkle In His Eye' by Sophia Dady
www.sophiadady...
Lyrics:
One of the greatest heroes that you'll know
A man courageous, he just can't wait to go
There's no task on earth that's big enough for him
Cruising through the land at speed in everything he's in
CHORUS
Cos when he's got that twinkle in his eye
Nothing's gonna stop him - Don't even try
He's on to something and everybody knows
Leaving us behind him, yeah, off he goes
Quick in to action, the man behind the mask
Press close behind him, he's off before they ask
What is it that's driving him, no one will ever know
A Campbell in his speed machine, just watch him go!
Lyrics by Sophia Dady

[@WonderfulHandy]

Wonderful! 🐦 My hero!

[@mikecartlidge5355]

When I was a little boy Donald was my hero, I am 70 years old now and nothing has changed as Donald is still my hero.

[@SophiaDady]

@@mikecartlidge5355 He most certainly is an absolute legend (and my biggest hero too!).

[@justinsmith4941]

Wow gina looks so beautiful for her age,looks younger than she is.i learnt about donald campbell from my great grandmother who lived not far from coniston,every holiday we had to the lake coniston was always the pilgrimage and everytime there was always the spirit of campbell and bluebird when at the lake side.would like to get the chance to go back and visit the museum and visit the grave of donald.he was my boyhood hero and enjoy watching this as well the old videos of donald campbell,long live the legend of bluebird and campbell

[@SophiaDady]

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m so glad you liked the video. Yes, Gina is a fantastic inspiration to us all and I agree, Donald’s magic fills Coniston and the surrounding area x

[@kenh3344]

Looks good for 71 Yr old. Now 73 at my time of comment. 2023.

[@SolutionsClimateSong]

Thank you for uploading this - such a great man and loved by so many! Can't wait to visit The Ruskin and see all the beautiful tributes to him x

[@Charles010]

Interesting, rewarding interview by Andy Kershaw. Gina Campbell; always dignified and open about her great Dads memories.

[@donaljamescaddye3805]

I used to hear my dad talk about Donald and the heroism and determination in the face of adversity - I had to fly into Leeds to collect a car about 6 years ago and the boat was a late sailing so I dropped into Coniston and seen the lake and museum completely on a whim - I didn't know much about Donald but my interest was completely ignited and Gina is right - there's summit special about Coniston like a presence or a feeling - its sad that a resolution cannot be found between Bill and the Ruskin museum - there has to be a middle ground somewhere!

[@SophiaDady]

Thank you for taking the time to comment - yes, Coniston is very special indeed and full of the presence of this great man x

[@johnstevens1038]

An interesting interview about a great man, and a lovely song.

[@AdventuresandLifestyle]

A wonderful insight into the life and times. Great to hear Gina and Andy together chatting along with Mr Whoppit 😊 👍

[@johnnyjack1538]

Thank you for posting an interesting discussion, and thank you for taking your time to come up with a great song to celebrate a great man

[@puma55792]

Andy asks some interesting questions and you get to know more about the character of the man, very good question and answer interview,

[@grahamkitchen6650]

Lovely woman ,with a true love for her fathers memory and the future for the Bluebird K7, Coniston, and seeing the K7 at the Ruskin A short distance from her father final resting place. Donald & the Campbell families wishes ... That is Donald staying with his boat.

[@SophiaDady]

Well said, and hopefully this will be very soon x

[@grahamkitchen6650]

@SophiaDady Bill Smith was only in it for the ownership pretential & the money he could've earned from Bluebird K7. He thought he could hold the Campbell family and Ruskin museum to ransom. He thought that he & the Bluebird project were the only bodies that had the experience & the knowledge to maintain the K7 Which is delusional . If he had the chance to claim ownership, he would have gone on a world tour with the Bluebird K7 and coined it in. One day, he would've sold the K7 to the highest foreign bidder . It would've never been seen in England again.

[@stephenwales9268]

Interesting interview, I have just returned from the Ruskin Museum where K7 now resides and found a copy of Gina's book Bluebirds the story of the Campbell Dynasty. written in the late eighties. Very interesting, also a great Bluebird/Campbell display at the Lakeland Motor Museum.

[@SophiaDady]

Yes, both the Lakeland and Ruskin have great displays - It was the Lakeland that really touched me and therefore inspired me to write the Album about Donald - a very special place indeed!

[@MrCMHUDDY]

Thanks for posting this Sophia (only two years late with my gratitude). What a great interview...Andy is clearly passionate about this, and his warmth lends to a very entertaining conversation.

[@Wigglesway]

This was a lovely interview, and now Bluebird is home another one would be great to watch with Bluebird sitting proud behind them.

[@SophiaDady]

You might want to watch on The One Show tonight 😉

[@Wigglesway]

@@SophiaDady I certainly will 😁

[@SophiaDady]

@@Wigglesway Now doesn't that look better?

[@Wigglesway]

@@SophiaDady much much better! Thank you for letting me know ☺️

[@SophiaDady]

You are more than welcome and a fabulous outcome! xx Have you seen my latest video 'Donald Campbell's Bluebird K7 Returns to Coniston 2024'? You might like it (especially the words in the song!)@@Wigglesway

[@cameronross956]

DC7 Is currently on a blue Aston Martin. My mum talks about Donald Campbell as originally from Cumbria my grandfather moved to Surrey as he worked for the cabinet office. They lived in the same place as DC and mum went to the same school as Gina, and remembers her at school.

[@lukeframpton3671]

She belongs in the museum for people to see and I think bill should get use of it

[@shallayne1]

What a great interview ! What a lovely lady.

[@ColinMill1]

58 years ago today since that crash. Like most of my age I can remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard about it. Naively I hoped for news that he had survived but as the day grew on it became obvious even to me that it wasn't going to happen.

[@SophiaDady]

@@ColinMill1 A Very sad day. They stayed out on the lake until mid day hoping, waiting… but nothing. Eventually they realised it was no good and came back on shore. He will never be forgotten and in many ways because of that fateful day he has immortalised himself. He will always be my one hero xx

[@mrcarlo1966]

She is a wonderful lady..Regards from 🇺🇸💙

[@malcolmbloor1225]

It's time bluebird come home

[@johnwalters4792]

2024 Welcome home

[@SophiaDady]

Absolutely! ❤

[@modelzone5727]

Now that bluebird has been rebuilt, it would be amazing for that teddy to sit in that amazing speed machine, bluebird once again 🫡

[@granto6738]

And they taken k9 apart ong it's terrible

[@platonkarataev550]

K7 not K9

[@granto6738]

@@platonkarataev550 has the boat been taken apart then

[@eltonjohntributedeantorkin197]

The clown refusing to release it is contemptable! People want it back home!!! If your reading this hang your head in shame

[@johnwalters4792]

Agreed and now it's home.

[@JohnJones-mz2tc]

Bill Smith was struck by Gollum syndrome...understandable given the time and effort he put into the restoration