Memory Lane
In the mid to late 1950s, I was a member of the design team of the famous vehicles
Bluebird K7 (for water travel) and CN7 (on land), at Norris Brothers Ltd in Sussex. I was project co-ordinator for the latter model.
In that capacity, I spent a lot of time with Donald Campbell, born just over 100 years ago, on 23rd March 1921. I was his technical back-up, visiting companies that were supplying, or making, parts for the car.
Because of Donald’s back problems, I often had to take over the driving. We were frequently delayed and had to try to make up time. Pushing a Bentley Continental over the speed limit was somewhat hair-raising.
A change of career in late 1966 took me to an office in Grosvenor Square, London. On 4th January 1967, my secretary called to say, ‘There’s a man from the BBC wants to talk to you urgently.’
He asked if I was the Donald Stevens who had been involved with K7. He asked me to get to Broadcasting House without delay. There had been an accident.
On arrival, I was swiftly rushed down to a studio and told that Donald had died in a horrific crash on Coniston Water in the K7. He was 45. A film of the crash had been flown down and was due to arrive at any moment.
I was very shaken and was offered a whisky that turned out to be exceedingly large, but did steady my nerves.
The film came up on screen and we watched it several times before I was asked for my opinion on what had happened. That was an impossible question to answer accurately as there were a number of possibilities requiring detailed investigation.
I considered it necessary to wait until the two chief designers had returned from Coniston Water with more detailed knowledge.
In any case, I was too upset to be interviewed.
By Donald Stevens, author of Bluebird CN7: The Inside Story, who receives £50
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