Hi
We have a book inscribed "'To Arthur Booker with Sir Malcolm Campbell's best wishes
for Xmas. Headley Grove 25/12/41."
Can anyone tell us who Arthur Booker is?
Thanks
Jo
"Mullyjo Books Book World"
mullyjo@mullyjo.fsnet.co.uk
9.18.10
Hello,
Whilst rummaging through my father's effects, I came upon the enclosedpostcard. Would it be of any interest to someone?
Thanks for your time and consideration,
Michel Fauteux
michelfauteux@sympatico.ca
PS. I have no idea who Monsieur Boisjoli is (was)
08.13.10
My grandad was H. Webster and worked for Malcolm Campbell as a mechanic and I am trying to gather information of his years with same, could you help or point me in the direction. ( I have in my possession his tobacco box inscribed to him as "one of the troops"
June 24, 1923, at Fanoe )
Regards
Rose Shepherd
balomie@btinternet,com
05.05.10
Dear Sirs,
My name is Ricardo Nicory, I am doing a research about my family, and noticed that Sir Campbell, was married to Mrs Bety Nicory, which can be a relative of mine, my grandfather was Nicory Taurino I would like much of a response from you, I live in Brazil.
Cordially
Ricardo Nicory
ricardonicor@gmail.com
03.19.10
Hello there---could you possibly tell me if one of the late Sir Malcolm Campbell's mechanics or engineers†had the surname "McWilliam" at all? I was always told that my father's Dad was linked to Sir Malcolm but have never managed to find out any information.
Kindest regards and many thanks for taking the time to read this.
Marilyn Mingo
marcliff1uk@yahoo.co.uk
02.24.10
Hello
I wonder if you could recommend a good biography on Sir Malcolm Campbell?
I am particularly interested in the work he did during the Second World War to help the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP). I’m not sure if you know about them, but they did secret beach reconnaissance ahead of invasions in order to assess geographical and defensive issues that might hinder the invasion forces. One of the issues they had to assess was the load-bearing capacity of the beaches, to make sure that they could carry the weight of tanks etc, and Sir Malcolm with his experience of assessing the load-bearing capacity of the Daytona Beach proved to be an invaluable help to them. Indeed, I believe he once went on a mission with them into occupied France but his public profile – and, I believe, his comparative old age – meant he started to be recognised in pubs etc around their base back in England and he had to step into a more background role.
In light of this, I was intrigued by a letter from Sir Malcolm to his solicitor, dated June 1945, that you reproduce on your website where he mentions going to Burma and the War Office. My grandfather was with COPP in Burma at this time, and I wonder whether his trip might be related to “official COPP business”. Perhaps it will become clearer once I have read a good biography.
With many thanks in advance
Rob Crane
robcrane@blueyonder.co.uk
02.01.10
We are opening a museum here in Dumfries, S. W. Scotland to commemorate the achievements of local people in the fields of motor sport. One feature will be the building of the 1929 Bluebird for Malcom Campbell at the Arrol Aster factory here. It is hoped that part of this feature will be a replica of the car to be built by final year students at the Dumfries Technical College and to this end it would be very useful if anyone has any drawings or photographs of the car to help with the project.
If you think you can help us, please contact me at this email address.
David Callander
Dumfries & Galloway Museum of Motor Sport
dumgalmusmospo@aol.com
01.12.10
Please see attached a photograph of the Bluebird which I am sure would make a great addition to your website.
The person at the wheel is my Grandfather, William Danby, who was one of Sir Malcolm Campbells's mechanics on the occasion of him breaking the land speed record. After Sir Malcolm returned to England my Grandfather was entrusted to take the car on tour round America. It was during the days of prohibition and I was always told that an amount of booze was stowed in the car during its various moves.
My Grandfather, born 1881, came from Yarm, N Yorkshire and at one time ran Preston Garage between Yarm and Stockton with his two sons. He raced motor cycles himself and was despatch rider during the First War in the Middle East. I have a wonderful book of pressed flowers that he sent home from there. Races took place in this area on the beach at Saltburn by Sea and on Redcar racecourse. He had a great reputation for tuning up engines and Sir Malcolm's mechanics had much to do with breaking the record. Sadly I know no more about the time my Grandfather spent in Campbell's service and dearly wish now that I had talked to him more about it when he was alive.
Bill Danby
Skelton, Saltburn
I wonder if you could recommend a good biography on Sir Malcolm Campbell?
I am particularly interested in the work he did during the Second World War to help the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP). I'm not sure if you know about them, but they did secret beach reconnaissance ahead of invasions in order to assess geographical and defensive issues that might hinder the invasion forces. One of the issues they had to assess was the load-bearing capacity of the beaches, to make sure that they could carry the weight of tanks etc, and Sir Malcolm with his experience of assessing the load-bearing capacity of the Daytona Beach proved to be an invaluable help to them. Indeed, I believe he once went on a mission with them into occupied France but his public profile - and, I believe, his comparative old age - meant he started to be recognised in pubs etc around their base back in England and he had to step into a more background role.
In light of this, I was intrigued by a letter from Sir Malcolm to his solicitor, dated June 1945, that you reproduce on your website where he mentions going to Burma and the War Office. My grandfather was with COPP in Burma at this time, and I wonder whether his trip might be related to "official COPP business". Perhaps it will become clearer once I have read a good biography.
With many thanks in advance
Rob Crane
robcrane@blueyonder.co.uk
02.01.10
Hello
10.14.09
Hi
I have in my possession a menu of a dinner given for Donald Campbell to celebrate the occasion of his breaking the World Water Speed record 202.32 m.p.h on Lake Ullswater on July 23rd 1955. It took place in the Glenridding Hotel and the menu is signed by 16 people including Donald Campbell, Leo Villa and others involved with the event. The hotel was owned by my wife's great uncle Mr A Holdway and I have a copy of the contemporary brochure for the Glenridding Hotel. My wife was present at the time.
We wondered if any one would be interested in buying these items. If so contact us
at our email address billbate1948@btinternet.com.
Bill and Barbara Bate
7.08.09
I would like to correct the data page on LSR history.
In 1970, The Blue Flame set the World Land Speed record at 630.388 mph.
At that time the car set the FIA world record for the flying mile at 622.407 mph and the flying kilometer at 630.388 mph. The mile record was erroneously reported in the attempt to get the news out quickly.
The world land speed record is the fastest world record certified by FIA or FIM. In the past, the mile speed had been either the only speed recorded, or was the faster of the two. Because The Blue Flame was rocket-powered and actually exhausted its fuel mid-mile during the speed runs, the kilometer time was the faster of the two.
In fact, Richard Noble never broke the kilometer record with his Thrust II jet car. His flying mile record did eclipse my car's kilometer record by 3 mph, giving him the world land speed record. The Thrust SSC finally broke the kilometer record set in 1970, in 1997, by going supersonic. Well done.
Richard Keller
Owner of Reaction Dynamics, Inc.
Designer and Builder of The Blue Flame
262richardk@charter.net
4.27.09
(Note: The chart has been corrected.)
Hi all
Just wanted to add to the interesting facts surrounding Sir Malcolm Campbell.
My granddad (surname: Blake) owned the plane (ZS-AAH) that flew Sir Campbell to Verneukpan in South Africa in 1929.
He lent it to a friend pilot who crashed it into a tree on the return flight, with Sir Campbell onboard.
Luckily no one was hurt, but it was a bit cheeky as they left my Granddad to foot the bill.
So now you know a little more about that . . .
Enjoy
Silvie Rautenbach
silvie@classroomteachers.co.uk
1.20.09
Hello!
Thank you for your very interesting website.
I am interested in chatting about Malcolm Campbell.
Regards,
P.A. Allen
saidi.gauteng@gmail.com
12.17.08
Hello
The attached photo is of a project that I have been working on for the past several months. It is a 1/10 scale, scratch build model of the Bluebird V. I became interested in this car and Sir Malcolm Campbell many years ago. After seeing the car in person at Daytona USA in February 2008 I became motivated to build this model and display case/coffee table for my "Man Room" where I keep and display all my racing memorabilia. I hope visit to your web site will enjoy this photo.
Walter Bell
wbelljr1@maine.rr.com
12.09.08
Congratulations on a really well-presented site with lots of interesting details. I particularly enjoyed the THE HERO page, as I have been collecting cards relating to the British land speed record breakers of the 1930's. You can see my current Malcolm Campbell page at http://www.landspeedrecordcards.com/LSR_Campbell.html
Its a striking thing that Malcolm Campbell seems to have generated far greater interest, from card makers, both in the UK and abroad, compared to the other record holders.
Best Regards,
John Edwards
landspeedrecord@hotmail.co.uk
8.03.08
Dear Sir,
I have really enjoyed your website and its wonderful collection of photographs.
My specific interest is in Delage cars and I am the honorary secretary and archivist of The Delage Register. One of our members living in New Zealand owns a 1929 Delage D8 that his father bought in the early thirties from his second cousin, Sir Malcolm Campbell. Its UK registration was GC 984. Another member has a D8S of 1932 that at one time bore the registration UV 5.
I noticed from one of your pictures that Sir Malcolm had a car sales venture in Albermarle Street. The Delage agency Smith & Co were in the same street.
Do you know whether any records exist of Campbell's "family cars", perhaps for example in family photo albums?
Best regards,
Peter Jacobs
01454612434
pj@delagen.wanadoo.co.uk
7.03.08
Dear Sirs,
I am researching the local history of my village, St. Michaels, near Tenterden in Kent and, have come across a reference to Sir Malcolm Campbell as a Vice President of our local village football club in 1938. His name appears on a membership card of that year and, I am intrigued to know why such a famous man might have been assosciated with our small village. I am aware Sir Malcolm was born in Kent but, cannot find a connection with St. Michaels (one presumes he must have been a friend of someone of note at the club).
My note to you is simply to ask if you might be aware of this connection and, if so, the story behind it.
For your reference, the Football Club Membership card to which I refer is in the property of the Tenterden Museum.
I am obliged for any help you might be willing to give.
N. B. In penning this note, I am making the working assumption that here was only one Sir Malcolm Campbell in the UK in 1938.
Thank you.
Regards,
Colin Young
colinyoung2@tiscali.co.uk
5.29.08
I found your site today and just wanted to let you know that I am a grandson of Joseph Mania, who designed the engine for the Bluebird.
Alan Morgan
wiking2@wowway.com
4.25.08
Hello;
I really enoyed your website on Malcolm Campbell. I have an autographed photo of Malcolm that I thought you might like to see. Bill Strumy in the photo was a reporter for the Indianapolis Star newspaper.
Hope you enjoy it!
John Blazier
Indianapolis, Indiana
blazier1017@yahoo.com
3.23.08
Brilliant website, just surfed in , and being a Campbell enthusiasts at only 13, its brilliant !
I was wondering whether you knew whereabouts there was any rare photographs of Sir Malcolm Campbell with his son Donald.
Thank you for your help.
Hannah Singleton
han315@hotmail.co.uk3.13.08
3.15.08
I have a few original photos of the bluebird in Daytona that i would like to sell, can you help?
Jack Shea
sheazam@dishmail.net
3.13.08
I am looking for information (and photographs) on the 1929 attempt at Verneukpan, South Africa.
Thanks
Robert Sadler
www.southerncape.co.za
rsadler@southerncape.co.za
9.10.07
sir
can you help, i have come across an old print, malcolm campbell's napier blue bird, if you can give me any details about the picture i would be grateful.
regards
david
dapolson@genie.co.uk
8.06.07
Hello,
I'm writing to thank you for your site. My Aunt just sent me a very nice
photograph taken by LeSesne of Sir Malcolm Campbell in Bluebird II on Feb 5,
1931. On the back it says his time was 245.733 mph (a world record, it says).
Apparently, my uncle, who lived in Daytona Beach, FL, at that time, was able to
see him. I didn't know anything about this photograph, so I thank you for your
site which helped me to understand it. In the photo I have, there is an
ainplane behind Bluebird, and a crowd of people around him. I believe the
driver sitting in the car is Sir Malcolm Campbell. She also sent me a photo of
the Sunbeam Silver Bullet car, which was much slower. Fascinating story.
Again, thanks for your site.
Best wishes,
Rebecca Pluta
magee23@yahoo.com
5.31.07
I have been fortunate enough to be the proud owner of Sir Malcolm's third private Motor Yacht. Following Sir Malcolm's ownership she was taken over by the RN and served at Dunkirk and throughout the war. She is 73 feet long and sleeps 10. Having owned her for 10 years and given her a total refit we feel the time has come to say good bye and are offering her for sale. For further details please contact me.
David Knight
bunting@intamail.com
5.16.07
3.26.07
Hi, just been looking at ur website, and just wanted to thank you for a superb site . . . so interesting and great to see some brilliant photos of the time.Keep up the good work, and thanks again!!
Kenin Elmy
inquisitive_tortoise@hotmail.com
3.26.07
Hi there, I have just got back from a car boot sale and purchaced two Sir Malcolm Campbell letters to a Mr. W.L Inwood. The 1932 one comes with the envelope, the 1933 one without. I was wondering what they are worth to a avid collector of Sir Malcolm Campbell memoribilia?
Yours Faithfully
Craig Yarker
craig.yarker@yahoo.com
2.27.07
PS: I couldn't believe what i saw when spotted . . .
Cheffins Auctioneers are to offer a re-discovered archive of Malcolm and Donald Campbell images within the automobilia section of their “Vintage” sale on the 21st April 2007, to be held at The Saleground, Sutton Near Ely Camb’s.
This collection of glass “magic lantern” slides (each 80mm x 80mm, 188 in total), were rescued by the vendor from the fate of a bonfire some 48 years ago having been cleared from the cellar of the famous Reigate Hill Hotel which was owned by the vendors aunt, Margaret Park.
Donald Campbell and his wife lived in the hotel during 1949 and rented the hotel garage where Leo Villa, Malcolm and Donald’s mechanic, set up shop to work on the first “Coniston” Bluebird.
The slides were only looked at again in the last 5 years by the vendor when, once again they were cleared out, this time from the family garage by his father.
Obviously professional images, certain chronicled events are depicted featuring Malcolm Campbell and his team which are believed to be: 1922 record attempt at Saltburn, Fanoe and Pendine c1924, Daytona 1928 and 1934, the 1929 trip to Cape Town and the Sahara and the 1928 treasure hunting trip to Cocos Island aboard Kenelm Lee Guinness’s yacht. Many other fascinating images are present including the young Donald sat in his fathers Bluebird, Malcolm at speed in a Bugatti during a road race in France, a record of the plane crash in which Malcolm was injured in Africa as well as many general “views”.
Certain of these images, or ones very close, appear in “My Thirty Years of Speed” by Malcolm Campbell c1934, “The Romance of Motor Racing” published by Hutchinson c1936, “BP Book of the Racing Campbell’s” c1960, “Life With The Speed King” by Leo Villa c1979 and “The Record Breakers” by Leo Villa c1969. This latter publication credits many of the photographs as coming from the authors’ private collection however the origin of the slides would seem, most logically, to lie with Sir Malcolm, perhaps used to illustrate lectures and speeches, certainly there is cause for further research. It should be noted that some slides are cracked and potential purchasers must satisfy themselves as to the condition of the lot before bidding. A fascinating archive with scope for producing some stunning images.
Jeremy Curzon
Cheffins Auctioneers
Clifton House
1 & 2 Clifton Road
Cambridge
CB1 7EA
01223 213777
(DDI) 01223 271971
www.cheffins.co.uk
1.24.07
Hi,
Just a short email to inform you that we will be holding a commemorative birthday party for Donald Campbell (he would have been 86) at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston on 23rd March 2007 at 2.30pm. There will be a film show, members of the Campbell, a 3D slide show and music. We will also be launching a new publication; Leo Villa’s 3D Album of Bluebird, 267 pages (over 600 images) of colour photos covering the adventures of the Campbell team from 1949 to 1967. Thirty of the images are in 3D every book comes with a pair of glasses.
Yours sincerely,
David de Lara
bluebirdk7@bluewin.ch
12.06.06
To whom it may concern,
I have three original dinner menu's for dinners given by Sir Malcolm Campbell for his friends. Two of them are dated for different dinners in 1933. The last one is dated 1935 and is signed in pencil on the front cover.
If these are of interest to you could you please let me know.
Many thanks
Lionel Stall
lstall@supanet.com
12.04.06
If anybody is interested, I will shortly be putting on eBay a few bits and pieces relating to Sir Malcolm Campbell's private yacht Bluebird.
These consist of a blueprint facsimile of the original engine room piping (1938) and various cuttings concerning the purchase of the yacht by a Cornishman in 1986.
The significance of the date was that the 17-year old apprentice who had so beautifully drawn the blueprint in Goole visited the new owner in Cornwall and he was presented with this facsimile. I obtained this collection directly from him but I have no idea of its value or desirability.
I am letting you know about this as it is not clear what eBay category is the most appropriate.
John Rose
john@jrose2.wanadoo.co.uk
06.29.06
Hello, I was stunned to find your excellent website on Sir Malcolm Campbell. My late father, Jack Pereira (John Joseph Pereira), was one of his engineering team at Verneukpan in South Africa in 1929 !
I did not realise there was still so much interest in the history of the Bluebird and have been going through your website with some emotion on remembering conversations with my Dad. I was only 24 years of age when he died and how I wish I had asked more questions about his adventures on the trip from Cape Town to Verneukpan. I have found two of Dad's old photos of the team, one at Cape Town and one at Verneukpan.
Jack Pereira was a motor bike specialist at that time and was also involved in the TT races on the Isle of Man the following year. He met and married my mother, Jessie Taylor, in England that year before they both returned to Cape Town. Unfortunately I have no living relatives to provide any further info on the Verneukpan and the Bluebird team of 1929 which is why I am including a few personal details.
I now reside in Canada with my husband, children and grandchildren and would love to pass on to them any information or records you may have come across in your own research of this period.
Thanks & best regards,
Jessica Williamson
jjwilliamson@shaw.ca
03.09.06
Dear Readers,
I found your fascinating website this evening whilst searching for a photograph of Bluebird taken after the 1935 Land Speed Record at Bonneville and see you have a good picture taken, not then, but at it's "rolling out" appearance. My special interest today is because by pure chance, I came across a very charming newspaper report dated Tuesday 7th January 1936 which concerns the car when it had returned to England. I am currently researching the history of my late father's ex Isle of Man Sunbeam 95 motorcycle and was searching our local newspaper "The Bristol Evening Post" to find the advertisement in which the bike was advertised for sale in Jan. 1936. It was during this that I read the following story.
From 7th to the 12th January 1936, Bluebird was put on display in the showrooms of a Bristol motor showrooms, Messrs. Henly's of Victoria Street who were Austin, Morris, Wolseley and Riley dealers (surviving until the mid 1990's). Described as "The Wonder Car", the showroom was open to the public with donations invited to support the "Motor Traders Benevolent Fund" (still active today). On the first day over 500 people came to see the car but one was a young boy who turned up alone but accompanied by his dog. The dog led him up to a salesman and the boy asked if he could please "feel" the car because he was blind and wanted to understand it's size and what it really felt like. The salesman was only too pleased to help the lad and he was allowed to touch the car carefully all over which seemed to give him great pleasure. Afterwards, the salesman told the others around him that whilst all the people coming into the showroom had been impressed by Bluebird, nobody had got more enjoyment from their visit than that little boy with his pet dog.
I thought that this was a most unusual motoring tale and that many people living in Bristol today would be interested. We have a special section each week called "Bristol Times" which looks back to past times and events in the area and so I will be sending in this little story which may bring back some memories. Henly's were a very well known garage and the Victoria Street premises were most impressive. I remember them well but sadly they were demolished around 1966/7 to make way for a "temporary steel flyover" (it lasted until 2001 !). Whilst Bluebird is well known to us "petrolheads", it may help people if they had a photograph of the car and so I wonder if it would be in order to use one of the images on your site to go with the story. There is no financial gain involved here in any way and I do appreciate the problems of copyright etc. so should be grateful for your thoughts.
Thank you for taking time to read this.
Richard Leaman
Bristol
UK
Ftm440@aol.com.
2.16.06
Would like to obtain a print of this photo for my private collection. Can anyone help.
Regards.
Grahame M. Camm
UK
grahamecamm@ntlworld.com
12.04.05
Congratulations.
Just a brief line to congratulate you on your superb website dedicated to Sir Malcolm.
I have a large collection of Campbell memorabilia and was very impressed with the items shown on the site.
Regards,
David de Lara
bluebirdk7@bluewin.ch
10.19.05
Nice website.
Lovely site - some fabulous pictures, great design of the site which makes a stunningly simple but lovely layout - have you room for a few more pictures ?
Might be able to scrape a few that may be of interest.
Kind regards
Andy Griffin
andygk7@yahoo.co.uk
10/9/05
Hello,
I’m a big Donald and Malcolm fan.
Just came across your site. It is fabulous, well put together, a real quality site. Brilliant photos, many that I haven’t seen before. Congratulations!
Has the site been running long, I’ve never seen it before.
Best wishes,
Yours,
Chris Jackson
Chris@metroimaging.co.uk
10/06/05
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