Talk:Donald Campbell

Died?
It says he dies Coniston Water, Lancs, England (in the side box thing). But apparently Coniston Water is in Cumbria. Should this be changed? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.110.63.76 (talk) 10:35, 30 June 2010 (UTC)


 * While it says Lancashire in the main text of the article as well, Coniston Water is definitely in Cumbria. Alex McKee (talk) 12:24, 1 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Coniston Water is in Cumbria, see the wiki page on Coniston Water.--Gritstone1976 (talk) 20:42, 12 September 2011 (UTC)

At the time of his death in 1967 Coniston was part of Lancashire it was not until Local Government reorganisation in 1974 when Cumbria was created.So the article is correct but a small note saying Coniston Water is now classed as being in Cumbria would be helpful — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jklakes (talk • contribs) 18:43, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

Copyvio?
The following seems to be the source of a large part of this article and has a copyright notice on it:

http://www.bluebird-electric.net/donald_campbell_cbe.htm

However, this text is distributed throughout the Internet and I'm not sure which came first.

Mark Hurd 05:04, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Bad taste, but true
'Campbell's headless body was recovered from the lake on May 28, 2001. He was laid to rest in Coniston cemetery on 12 September 2001 after a funeral service in Coniston village attended by his wife Tonia, daughter Gina, other members of his family, members of his former team, and admirers.'

217.134.241.49mp217.134.241.49

noted also that the helmet was found (presumably along with the rest of the 2001 trawl) but not his skull. odd, isn't it?

duncanrmi (talk) 09:21, 3 September 2020 (UTC)

Last words?
In a sidebar, the source given (BBC article about preserving the tape to CD format) lists his last words as: "I Can't see much, the water's very bad indeed... I'm getting a lot of bloody row in here... I've got the bows up... I've gone"

The body text says:

His last words were: "The water's dark green and I can't see a bloody thing. Hallo the bow is up. I'm going. I'm on my back. I'm gone." —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 52.129.8.48 (talk) 15:22, 7 May 2007 (UTC).

To be honest, irrespective of what the BBC report says, his very last words have always seemed very clear to me:

"I've got the bows up..... I'm going!.... Oh"  rather than "I've gone"

After using software to sharpen the sound and filter out noise, I believe Campbell says, "And now the bow's up. I'm going. Oh." Conveniently, this makes more sense than, "Hallo the bow is up" or "I've got the bows up." --73.52.108.62 (talk) 04:19, 13 February 2015 (UTC)Steve C

Category:Bluebird record-breaking vehicles
I've started a cat. for listing the various Bluebirds. Assistance is very welcome, particularly with writing articles to go into it. I can't believe there isn't yet an article on Bluebird K7! I intend to list everything ASAP, then worry about individual expansion later - Andy Dingley (talk) 18:02, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Mr Whoppit
It has been suggested that Donald Campbell be re-categorised into Category:Teddy bears. Andy Dingley (talk) 11:44, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Where was he born
According to this website Campbell was born at Canbury near Kingston on Thames, not at Horley. So what's his correct place of birth? Mister Flash (talk) 19:10, 9 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Canbury, Malcolm didn't move to Horley until just after his birth (before Jean's). (ref. Tremayne, Man Behind The Mask) Andy Dingley (talk) 19:21, 9 April 2009 (UTC)
 * I've changed the article to reflect this. Mister Flash (talk) 21:11, 9 April 2009 (UTC)

This has been changed to Horley again, other sources indicate that the family did not move to Povey Cross until after Campbell was born so I have reverted it pending some consensus here, thanks. MilborneOne (talk) 20:53, 16 July 2013 (UTC)
 * Given that the 'consensus' version is unreferenced, whereas the Horley version is refed, I have simplified the usage to a single one in the box, and requested a citation for that one. Atlas-maker (talk) 21:06, 16 July 2013 (UTC)
 * OK I have provided four references for Canbury, one is a primary reference that says his birth is registered Kingston, this is supported by the other references, do want any more? MilborneOne (talk) 21:52, 16 July 2013 (UTC)
 * I think 4 is way OTT, quite ugly and probably a bit pointy. Where did you get the primary birth cert ref? Just happen to have a copy lying around at home? Atlas-maker (talk) 06:47, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
 * The birth index ref was already in use in the article I didnt add it but it can be found at http://www.freebmd.org.uk/search as well. It was a bit pointy as I needed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the Povey Cross reference was clearly wrong, no reason why we cant remove the extra refs if your happy. MilborneOne (talk) 12:03, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
 * Actually, none of the first 3 indicate to me that he was born in Kingston, just that his birth was registered there. Which would make sense as County Hall is located there. I personally don't know where he was born. But I would like to see p815 of the Register to see the complete entry and see for sure where he was born. I think that a website belonging to his daughter is much more likely to have the correct birthplace than any passing mention in a Daily Newsrag at the time of his Blue Plaque. Funny that the plaque doesnt mention he was born in that house. Atlas-maker (talk) 12:50, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
 * Both the English Heritage and the book referenced mention he was born at Canbury House, if his birth was registered in Kingston he must have been born somewhere in the Kingston registration disrict, Anybody born in Horley in the 1920s would appear in the Reigate registration district not Kingston. The family did not move to Povey Cross until after he was born but his sister was born there. Sounds like you need more references to not less. MilborneOne (talk) 13:08, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
 * More? No. Different? Yes. Atlas-maker (talk) 13:22, 17 July 2013 (UTC)


 * Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - "Campbell, Donald Malcolm (1921–1967), land and water speed record-holder, was born on 23 March 1921 at Canbury, Kingston Hill, Surrey" MilborneOne (talk) 14:40, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
 * English Heritage - Donald was born at Canbury in March 1921 ... Malcolm, however, became restless and in late 1922 the family moved to Povey Cross, near Horley, Surrey.  MilborneOne (talk) 16:28, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
 * Daily Telegraph "Their son, Donald, was born at the family home (now a school) in March 1921," MilborneOne (talk) 16:30, 17 July 2013 (UTC)

Religion
The source for claiming Campbell was a Wiccan seems very flimsy indeed. Is there anything to substantiate it?Wessexboy (talk) 21:31, 24 June 2011 (UTC)

Not that I'm aware of, and having discussed this with Gina Campbell (daughter) i would say not ( Sheppane (talk) 18:55, 5 May 2013 (UTC) )

Daughter's birth date
In an interview on BBC Radio 4 Today programme (25 Oct 2011) Campbell's daughter stated she was 17 years old when her father died. This puts her birth around 1949/50, not 1946 as stated in Wikipedia. This is confirmed at http://www.bluebirdteamracing.net/bluebirdsupportersclub/peo/gc.html which gives her date of birth as 19 Sept 1949. 86.24.70.90 (talk) 08:15, 25 October 2011 (UTC) Moriarty

19th September 1946 I believe. Reference: Leo Villa - The Record Breakers 1969 Hamlyn and Gina Campbell - Bluebirds, although not explicit. The date is correct. The year 1946 or 1947 is the point of question ( Sheppane (talk) 18:56, 5 May 2013 (UTC) )


 * Although we are not allowed to use it primary sources indicate 1946 Q3 in Surrey and this is backed up by secondary sources like the odnb . MilborneOne (talk) 20:39, 5 May 2013 (UTC)

Cause of accident
Given the notoriety of Campbell's final run and death, this section requires considerable work. It makes many assertions about the cause that are unsupported by references.Robma (talk) 08:43, 10 October 2012 (UTC)

The cause of the accident has been fully researched in the book Donald Campbell, Bluebird and the Final Record Attempt, which had unprecedented access to the original analysis carried out by the Norris Bros, designers of Bluebird K7 after the accident. The analysis was completely re-assesd by Dr Keith Mitchell, and Mr Tony James, who was an MD at Norris Bros, and project manager for the Bluebird K7 refit in 1966. Extensive help was also sourced from Prof John Stollery, who was Professor of Aerodynamics as Imperial College and consultant to the Norris Bros / Campbell team. In conjunction with work carried out by Dr R Englar of Georgia Tech, who has done extensive work on hydroplane's operating in ground effect, the analysis of the causes of K7 accident is that which I have abridged in both the Donald Campbell and Bluebird K7 pages. This adds substantially to the explanation of the accident and helps clear up many misconceptions and heresy that have built up over the years.

Furthermore, as part of that analysis, an enhanced copy of Campbell's final run commentary was also exhaustively re-examined, and this revealed a different interpretation of Campbell's last words and their context. I have included this on both pages, but have also included a helpful acknowledgement of the fact that this interpretation differs from previous version. In this way, readers are able to make up their own mind. I have also provided a context for Campbell's commentary and given background as to how it was delivered, effectively in real time as events were happening, and not as a reflection or interpretation of events.

I have contributed extensively to both pages and find it frustrating when copy is changed without reference to the wider increase in knowledge that has been brought to both pages in the last year or so, or without acknowledgement that differences of opinion do exist over some aspects of the Bluebird K7/ Donald Campbell story. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sheppane (talk • contribs) 11:04, 5 May 2013 (UTC) ( Sheppane (talk) 18:53, 5 May 2013 (UTC) )

Articles for deletion/Mr Whoppit
FYI. Andy Dingley (talk) 23:50, 14 January 2014 (UTC)

Campbell chose a lucky date
"Campbell chose a lucky date to hold a press conference at the Charing Cross Hotel on 7 July 1965..." <- What does this mean? Fotoguzzi (talk) 18:42, 13 February 2014 (UTC)


 * A guess but probably because it is 7/7 and the number seven appears a few times in relation to Campbell. MilborneOne (talk) 16:09, 14 February 2014 (UTC)

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