LOSE YOURSELF IN 1958

CAMPBELL’S RECORD RUN

Donald Campbell and his crew spent much of 1958 preparing for another crack at the world water speed record, which he had set in Bluebird K7 the previous year. A year later he managed to up the record from 239.07mph to 248.62mph on Coniston Water. The lake is now better remembered for Campbell’s tragic final run in 1967, when he was killed after K7 struck a submerged log.

CASTLE TURNED COLLEGE

Another Lake District landmark – Wray Castle on the shores of Lake Windermere, where a young Beatrix Potter once spent her summer holiday – was turned into a college to train Merchant Navy radio offi cers, and was bestowed the title RMS Wray Castle between 1958 and 1998. Students taking part in three-year courses would learn the maritime radio proceedures and regulations, and how to repair radio equipment. The college then diversified into more general telecoms training, before leaving the site altogether in 2004. The National Trust looked at turning it into a hotel, but decided instead to run it as one of its visitor attractions.

END OF THE LINE

Proof that cars were becoming increasingly popular came less than a month after our Grasmere shot was taken, with the last passenger train setting off from Broughton-in-Furness towards Coniston. A survey the previous year revealed that an average of 18 people were using each of the branch line’s eight daily services, and that British Railways could save £17,000 – about £400,000 in today’s money – by scrapping services.