New girl with questions . . .

[elgringo]

Hello All,

To introduce myself - My name is Lesley and I am a bit of a nerd regarding all things Bluebird and Campbell(s) related.
I remember well the footage of DMC's last record attempt (damn - just given my age away), which continues to fascinate.

I am a relatively recent BBP website convert (simply due to the fact that I only acquired the URL from the very excellent "The Bluebird Years" a year or so), and since then I must have raised the hit count by at least a couple of hundred.
What an absolutely fantastic project you have on your hands. I am totally astounded by your professional "conserveering", and thoroughly enjoy the diary (especially the tweaking and fettling) which regularly makes me laugh.
Also love the shop . . . . BBP mugs now sit next to my Vulcan mugs (another of my pet projects I support), and BBP T-shirts and fleece are an added bonus to the wardrobe when one doesn't want to wear the black XH558 kit !!

But I digress . . . am a contract IT PM and (being currently between jobs) have today had the time to read through the entire Diary Archive. I've also downloaded a few images, I hope you don't mind ?

Now on to my questions . . . .

1. Does anybody know how to view Diary Archive 2001 Sep to Dec ? I get a "404 not found on the server" message.
2. Does anyone know if there's a Bluebird anatomy plan (similar to the one in "The Bluebird Years" page 38) so that I can accurately identify F-16 ?
3. Does anyone know if the Blue Bird and/or St Christopher plates from the dashboard were found ? I know the dashboard hasn't been recovered yet so probably not, but I'm still curious since these pieces must surely be among the most precious and emotive.
4. Does anyone know of a good map of Coniston Water and surrounds, as I am going up there shortly and would be interested to visit places like the timekeepers beaches if I can identify them.
5. Has anyone done the "Campbells On Coniston" cruise (which I intend doing) - maybe they point out such memorable places of interest ?
6. Has any been to Filching Manor - is the Campbell exhibit worth a visit ? I'm loathe to put money into the Forks Hobbit pocket if it isn't.
7. Can anyone shed light on the book/notes discovered by Petty Officer Eddie Yates in March 2001 (by Ken Norris and DMC) which included drawings of the various prototypes that led to the design of K7 ?

Well, those are my questions for now - being the "new girl on the forum", I hope you will forgive me stupid or previously-asked questions !!

Thanks, in anticipation of some answers, and I'll sign off with the following link which I discovered whilst trying to find the dictionary definition of "fettling" . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fettling . . . do try out the link therein entitled "Union Song about Fettlers" - it's hysterical.

Best regards to all,

Lesley

[Piston Broke]

1. Does anybody know how to view Diary Archive 2001 Sep to Dec ? I get a "404 not found on the server" message.

Thanks for the heads up about the archive page I have had a look and has now been repaired

[Renegadenemo]

I'd be surprised if the plaques were on the dash panel in 66. We'd surely have seen them on a photograph or footage somewhere. It annoys me to this day that we never got a sniff of the instrument panel. It had to go somewhere! You never know, we may yet recover it.

[thewrightstuff]

Hello All,

To introduce myself - My name is Lesley and I am a bit of a nerd regarding all things Bluebird and Campbell(s) related.
I remember well the footage of DMC's last record attempt (* - just given my age away), which continues to fascinate.


Now on to my questions . . . .

6. Has any been to Filching Manor - is the Campbell exhibit worth a visit ? I'm loathe to put money into the Forks Hobbit pocket if it isn't.

Don’t be so hard on Paul Foulkes-Halbard. He is remembered for his court challenge on ownershipof K7. But prior to that he was a good friend to DMC and kept much of the Campbell legend alive when it was not fashionable to do so (he also rescued and restored K3). Anyway a visit to Filching will not be money in Paul’s pocket, he is dead and the Manor closed to visitors unless by invitation

[Renegadenemo]

Surely that can't be the same Ffoulks-Halbard who wrote to me giving his permission to lift his wreck so long as it was handed over to him on the beach whilst well aware that he had no legal claim to it whatsoever. He offered me a backhander next but I turned him down. He never made a court challenge. He wriggled and squirmed for weeks enjoying the publicity until told by Mishcon DeReya to either 'sh*t or get off the pot' whereupon he quietly folded his tent and went home.

[thewrightstuff]

Surely that can't be the same Ffoulks-Halbard who wrote to me giving his permission to lift his wreck so long as it was handed over to him on the beach whilst well aware that he had no legal claim to it whatsoever. He offered me a backhander next but I turned him down. He never made a court challenge. He wriggled and squirmed for weeks enjoying the publicity until told by Mishcon DeReya to either 'sh*t or get off the pot' whereupon he quietly folded his tent and went home.

This is the case in question
The Executors of the late Donald Campbell, represented by law firm Mishcon de Reya, won their case today against Mr. Foulkes-Halbard. A consent order was lodged with the High Court in London, whereby the Executors are declared to be the rightful owners of the Bluebird K7 and Paul Foulkes-Halbard has accepted that he has no claim, title or other interest in the vessel whatsoever.
The order puts an end to a six month dispute brought by the Executors to prove their ownership in the face of claims made by Mr. Foulkes-Halbard that he had acquired ownership of the boat through the course of certain business dealings. Under the terms of the Order Mr. Foulkes-Halbard is restrained from making any further claims over the boat.
Rowena Herdman-Smith, the partner in charge of the case said,
"Our clients and the Campbell family are pleased that the case is settled. This dispute was an emotional one for Donald Campbell's family. After all, it related to the vessel in which Donald Campbell made his name, but also came to his untimely death."

I much prefer Mishcon de Reya’s descriptions to yours If you choose to judge a man on one decision in his life do the same for Mr. Campbell , he like PF-H may have made a bad decision, one in 1967 the other in 2001 . That does not make either a bad or foolish man You can take you own view on the sincerity of Paul, remember he was a sick man at the time but his statement is as follows “After a mature consideration, I decided to agree to a Consent Order to the Estate of the late Donald Campbell in respect of Bluebird K7. My reasoning behind this is I had been persuaded by the Campbell Family Trust and the people of Coniston that the right and proper place for the vessel to be exhibited was as near as possible to the body of Donald Campbell .
What ever may be written or sad re Paul over this incident in 2001. He could still lay claim to friendship with Donald Campbell and I believe was close to Leo Villa, Campbell’s engineer. I would still advocate that Paul is not judged on one skirmish in his life




This is the man in question
VILLAGERS SHOCKED BY DEATH OF 'MR FILCHING

Published Date: 15 October 2003
The owner of Filching Manor Motor Museum, fondly described by friends as 'Mr Filching', has died.
Paul Foulkes-Halbard died on Friday following a stroke. He was 66.
Mr. Foulkes-Halbard, who had lived in Filching for 17 years, was involved with a number of organisations, both in and out of the village, as well as owning and running the Filching Manor Motor Museum with his wife Greta.
He was a patron of the St Andrew's restoration fund, a Freeman of the City of London, a Freeman of England, a member of the Jevington Residents' Association and a member of the Fellow Royal Society of Arts.
Mr. Foulkes-Halbard was also a well-known figure in the car world, and belonged to the Bentley Drivers' Club, as well as being a member of the Bugatti Owners' Club.
Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson, who knew Mr. Foulkes-Halbard from around the village, said, 'He was a very original character, who cared passionately about the local environment.
He was always generous with his time and money and will be much missed in the area.'
David Harris, owner of Gibbys restaurant and tea gardens in the village, said, 'We are absolutely saddened to hear the news.
'I always thought he was the kindest gentleman I knew.
'He always had time for somebody and he was the focal point of our village.
'He was the most amazing person.'
Nick Leadbitter, who part owns The Eight Bells, said, 'I knew him as a very charming, knowledgeable and interesting man.
'His contribution towards the local village atmosphere will be sorely missed.'
Karl Foulkes-Halbard, Paul's son, said, 'He was very well admired locally and known in the car world and he spent his whole life building the family collection which I am involved with which is based at Filching Manor.
'We are going to miss him every day.'
Mr. Foulkes-Halbard originally came from Little Kings Hill in Buckinghamshire

[Renegadenemo]

My description said exactly the same as Mishcon's only more succinctly and I never had any time for people who try to bribe me. Do we consider that a one-off, snap decision or a slightly more sinister insight?

[DMCK7 Fan]

I have to say Bill that although what you say could well be true regarding 'a bribe' (I wouldn't know) it's unfortunate you feel the need to bring this up on a public forum when the man is not here to defend himself.
I remember elswhere on another forum (not too long ago) someone else getting a 'bashing' for mentioning things reported to having been said getting a right good bashing from someone in the bbp team for doing just what you have done here .
This just doesn't seem fair to me.

[Ernie Lazenby]

I am a little saddened that this excelent forum is in danger of slipping into how the other one used to be, you all know the one I mean.
I agree that there is little point referring to something someone is alleged to have done when hes now dead, it serves no usefull purpose it really doesnt and all it does it rake up long and best forgotten discord.

I feel its best if we get back to where we were before this whole poisoned issue was raised again. If there is an after life and DMC is looking down I suspect he will not be pleased that the name of his friend is once again being spoke of in less than amicable terms.

Best leave sleeping dogs alone and the memory of someone who was obviously Donalds friend remain as someone who did a lot of good in his life.

Sorry Bill if my comments upset you; I guess any chance of me being allowed to work on K7 have now gone.

[Renegadenemo]

OK guys - I'm out of order. I think I forgot which forum I was posting on and I apologise unreservedly. You are absolutely right Mr Ffoulks Halbard is not here to defend himself though I'd never do him the added disservice of perpetrating untruths about our limited dealings either. I guess he just really wanted that wreck.

Some years after my grandfather died I was told he'd had a fancy woman for many years that my granny never even suspected. I could have got uppity about it but the truth was it fitted with what I knew of him and in a strange way it enriched his character.