Latest news with #waterspeedrecord
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cumbria stories you might have missed this week
Escaped cows rescued from the sand, a campaign to save a critical care unit and residents left in shock over rent rises in a tourist hotspot - here are some of the stories from Cumbria you might have missed this week. Bluebird returns 70 years on The return of Donald Campbell's Bluebird to the spot where the adventurer set his first water speed world record 70 years ago is "humbling", his daughter says. Campbell clocked 202.32mph (325.6km/h) aboard the hydroplane at Ullswater, in the Lake District, in 1955 and the craft was on show near Glenridding Pier to mark the milestone. Gina Campbell said her father had shown resilience to set the record at a time when many experts believed a boat could not reach such a speed without breaking up. He died in 1967 when Bluebird somersaulted on Coniston Water as he attempted to push one of his subsequent records past 300mph (480km/h). Read the full story on the return here Calls to save hospital's critical care unit A petition urging the NHS to reconsider permanently removing the highest level of intensive care at a hospital hit 12,000 signatures. Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to close the level 3 unit at Furness General Hospital, in Barrow-in-Furness, due to staff shortages and demand. One of those who signed, Rosemary McGerty, 77, who lives in a retirement apartment complex nearby, said plans to send the sickest patients more than an hour's drive away were "very, very worrying". The ICB said those patients would be stabilised at the hospital before being transferred to Royal Lancaster Infirmary. More details here Cows stuck in sand rescued Four cows were rescued after they broke out of their enclosure and got trapped in quicksand. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said it had received reports of the animals being stuck up to their necks near Newton Arlosh. It said the cows had broken through a gate overnight and entered a river, but thankfully it was "an udderly good ending for all". Read more about their rescue here 'Shock' rent rises A tenant living in a tourist hotspot said he was left in shock when his landlord told him his rent would rise by 40%. Tim Greaves lives in a one bedroom flat on Compston Road in Ambleside. He said he received an email from his lettings agent notifying him of a £225 monthly rise. He claimed others living in the flat-block had also been hit with rises and were concerned about their options, saying: "There's nowhere to move, not a shoebox - nothing." Read all about it here Mosque abuse leads to extra patrols Police patrols are being stepped up following a rise in online abuse directed against the construction of a new mosque. The South Lakes Islamic Centre in Dalton-in-Furness is being spearheaded by a group of Muslim doctors at Barrow's Furness General Hospital. Last month, UKIP leader Nick Tenconi filmed himself visiting the site and shouting "traitor" at several of the site's construction workers. Mr Tenconi said he had "deliberately stood up" for the people of Dalton and criticised the local authority for allowing the "Islamic caliphate" into Britain. For all the details on this story click here Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- BBC News
Donald Campbell's Bluebird returns to Ullswater 70 years on
The return of Donald Campbell's Bluebird to the spot where the adventurer set his first water speed world record 70 years ago is "humbling", his daughter clocked 202.32mph (325.6km/h) aboard the hydroplane at Ullswater, in the Lake District, in 1955 and the craft has been on show near Glenridding Pier for the day to mark the Campbell said her father had shown resilience to set the record at a time when many experts believed a boat could not reach such a speed without breaking died in 1967 when Bluebird somersaulted on Coniston Water, also in the Lake District, as he attempted to push one of his subsequent records past 300mph (480km/h). Reflecting on the record's anniversary, Ms Campbell said: "It's really humbling after all these years [to see the interest in] what my father achieved, and to see that he still has a such a huge following."I have to pinch myself each time and say what a legacy he has left for me, my family and our nation."Looking at doing 200mph on water 70 years ago, it almost seems inconceivable."For him to have gone on and broken further records, I always say he must have had a heart of absolute steel."Donald Campbell's Bluebird: The battle back to ConistonTracy Hodgson, director of Coniston's Ruskin Museum which normally houses Bluebird in a dedicated wing, said the event was an opportunity to see a "very special piece of British high-speed motoring history".She added: "Ullswater will always be a special place in the Campbell story, and we are honoured to be able to display Bluebird K7 at Glenridding Pier close to where she was first launched 70 years ago."The event was held in partnership with Ullswater Steamers, which provides cruises on the anniversary commentary was used on selected sailings, giving people the opportunity to see two buoys marking out the measured mile used to set the Ruskin Museum is aiming to run Bluebird again on Coniston Water at some point next year when it will be piloted by Australian Dave Warby, son of the late-water speed world-record holder Ken craft's wreckage was recovered from Coniston Water in 2001 and rebuilt by a team of engineers on was handed over to the Ruskin Museum last year following the resolution of a years-long ownership row with the man who led its restoration. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
