Bluebird Returns Home to Coniston

Donald Campbells Bluebird K7 Hydroplane returns to Coniston after over 20 years, following her amazing restoration.

[@Alonsopen2005]

Bill smith you and your team deserve more credit

[@lesleybutterwick6023]

Whatever has gone on between everyone, people need to remember, if it wasn't for the BBP, bluebird wouldn't be where she is now. Credit should be given where it's due

[@halomultiplayermoments]

100 percent agree!

[@garethjones5068]

Such a fantastic document of a day that clearly meant so much to the local community

[@SootHead]

Taken from BBP ina very snakey way. Someone should reimburse their costs at least. Bittersweet event.

[@DigitalJunior2003]

Absolutely fantastic film. Really captured the spirit and emotion of the journey.

[@ianlomaxphotography6978]

Great video production Neil. A great record of a very emotional day. Love the camera positions, they worked really well.

[@jasonhales2692]

Absolutely fantastic. I could watch that over and over and over

[@JUDEEDWARD]

Such a shame that she'll never run again and will just moulder in that room. I have absolutely ZERO confidence in the Ruskin museum to back up any of their claims. Totally heart breaking for the BBP team and those of us who want to see her running

[@jeffyoung8012]

What like Donald's cars do and both thrust cars do.....or in fact most speed record vehicles do....🤦‍♂️

[@sarahpotts3253]

Very emotional film, thank you. Bluebird and Skipper back together again in beautiful Coniston. I visited her yesterday at the Ruskin museum and had the privilege of meeting Gina Campbell too. Thank you to all involved in bringing Bluebird K7 home for everyone to enjoy

[@patrickkenney1080]

Wonderful restoration, they got to run it, and now it resides where it should be. This is Campbell's boat, his legacy, and doesn't need to run anymore.

[@halomultiplayermoments]

I don’t agree, blue bird should be run yearly or she will be forgotten about and will run into disrepair.

[@lewiscollins1045]

The guy who owns the engine said he didn't want unqualified people working on it, so insisted they take it out. Seems fair enough to me.

[@sullivanrachael]

So the engine on a dolly sat next to her in the museum; is that meant to be put in K7? Have the Ruskin got some means?

[@lewiscollins1045]

@@sullivanrachael Apparently the guy was ok with the crew that installed the engine to look after it and service it, but the Ruskin museum wanted full control, so it was removed. so the story goes and I don't blame him.

[@sullivanrachael]

@@lewiscollins1045- yes the engine deserves proper technical support. Question is; the Ruskin have an engine; as seen lurking in the background of the last frames of this video. Is this set dressing or is it intended to be fitted to the boat and run? Are the Ruskin really so bloody minded as to effectively sack Bill and team and as you say, take full possession?

[@lewiscollins1045]

@@sullivanrachael Maybe the one that was in it?

[@richardb7225]

Agree 👍

[@baggy1067]

Beautiful 🥲

[@deansmith6924]

Bill smith deserves all credit for this boat and returning it and It’s skipper from the cold depths. Shame on the museum and gena for their greed. It will now rot here in this small badly run museum without its team. Sad end

[@koll789]

Why wasn't it covered in a tarpaulin or something for the journey???

[@sullivanrachael]

Probably because her museum caretakers are not practically minded people. The cockpit canopy is missing so any rain during the journey would land in the cockpit. Seems a bit daft, considering K7 is basically irreplaceable

[@lewiscollins1045]

@@sullivanrachael But it has been, most of what got dragged out of Coniston was fucked! most of it is not original Like Triggers brush.

[@sullivanrachael]

@@lewiscollins1045- Bill Smith and team used as much original material as they had available. So k7 is about as ‘original’ as she could be without her being a replica of herself. Seems a bit sloppy to plonk her on a lorry, minus the windscreen and canopy, toss a single rope across, and parade her cross country like she was triumphantly being displayed as a trophy ‘Look, *WE’VE got her away from Bill Smith!!’. I remain dubious about the altruism of the intent of the museum.

[@peterlindmark-7143]

What a shamefull thing. To do this against her restorers. Just to sneak it away like that. Not knowing what they are doing at the Ruskins museum. The boat is dead.