The Tangled Branch Discussion Forums

Tracy's piece about Kennedy, triggered a recollection of my own.

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The Day Donald Died
(Coniston Water, January 4th, 1967)

When Bluebird flipped on Lake Coniston,
and stopped his life,
his relentless pursuit of world records,
it seemed impossible.

I remember seeing a picture,
his wife stood on the jetty,
watching the search boats, 
slowly accepting that this time
there would be no recovery.

This was a man who, as a child,
drilled holes into his bicycle frame,
convinced it would make it faster.

He broke his father's world records,
and set his own, many times.

The next day at school I was subdued,
another schoolboy hero defeated.
"What's up?" I was asked, 
and answered, "Campbell's dead."

"So what?  It always happens,
to people who don't know when to stop."

Gyppo

Ooh.  Crass ending -- I can imagine how those words would be received by one who venerated Mr. Campbell.  Childhood heroes, especially for guys, were not lightly chosen or discarded.  

Not having a scooby who Donald Campbell was, I scrambled to google and had a fine trip through the stacks.  I can see how he would be a man to follow through years of exploits.  Taking speed records from 160 to 360?  incredible life.  Clearly an adrenalin junkie.    

Nice writing memorializes the day.  

Cheers.

T