Donald Campbell was a hero, like his famous father. But that is where the resemblance ended. Sir Malcolm, who broke no fewer than nine Land Speed Records and four on water, was an arrogant, domineering father. He ridiculed his son and actively tried to dissuade Donald from following in his footsteps. He thought the lad had neither the stomach nor the ability for record breaking. Sir Malcolm was so resolute that, when he died on December 31, 1948, the vindictive old man did not leave his Bluebird record car, hydroplane or memorabilia to his son. He directed that they should be sold at auction to raise money for his grandchildren and that, if Donald wanted any of them, he should buy them at the sale.
Awaiting a run on Coniston Water, Campbell stands in a support boat alongside Bluebird K4, puffing on his pipe and holding the hand of his wife.
With such a cold, overbearing father, it is surprising that Donald Campbell grew up to become the charming, cultured man of exceptional courage that he most certainly was, even though he was haunted by his father’s achievements and his own obsession to do better. According to his mother, Lady Dorothy Campbell, Donald was much more of a man than his imperious father, and went on to break seven Water Speed Records and one on land. So much for Sir Malcolm’s inaccurate and demeaning opinion of his son.
