Posted 1st September 2008 | 1 Comment

Donated nameplates help keep speed legend alive

Virgin Trains’ comms manager, Scotland and North England, Allan McLean presents the ‘Donald Campbell’ to Bluebird Project diver Bill Smith, Trust chair Anne Hall and Ruskin Museum cu

VIRGIN Trains has donated a pair of cast metal ‘Donald Campbell’ nameplates, named after the famous record breaker, to help keep the Bluebird K7 hydroplane restoration project on track.

The iconic Bluebird is nearing the end of a significant phase in her rebuild programme following the 2001 recovery of her wreckage from Coniston Water in the Lake District. Here Donald Campbell died while attempting to break his own world water speed record in 1967.

One nameplate, which previously adorned Super Voyager diesel 221 135, is destined for display in the new Bluebird Wing of The Ruskin Museum at Coniston, where the rebuilt jet-powered boat will be housed. The other will be auctioned to raise funds and is set to become a highly-desired collector’s item.

Following a crucial grant of £250,000 from Cumbria Vision and donations from the Garfield Weston Foundation and South Lakeland District Council, £527,000 has already been raised for construction of the museum’s Bluebird Wing, due for completion later this year.

Virgin Trains’ regional general manager Jane Cole said: “As train operators committed to serving Cumbria we are delighted to help, and to pay tribute to a great pioneer in the quest for speed.”

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  • Dave, Torre de la horadada, Spain

    A pair of "Cast Iron Name Plates" Donated by a international company that is worth Billions to keep the K7 resturation on track. What a load of C%*P
    That is nothing short of an insult to the memory of a brave Englishman.

    The cost of Allan Mc Lean's journey to donate this heavy chunk of metal would have been more than the plates value!
    Come on Virgin i.e Mr Branson dig a little deeper into your pocket, after all you can afford to indulge into many other activities costing Millions of pounds.