Ruskin statement

[nickfire]

Ruskin have put out a statement…. And not a positive one at that :
It is with profound sadness that the Trustees of the Coniston Institute & Ruskin Museum (“The Museum”), can confirm they have started the process against Bill Smith and The Directors of The Bluebird Project to gain possession of their property namely the record breaking jet hydroplane Bluebird K7 formerly owned by Donald Campbell CBE.

This action is very much the last resort, with relationships having irretrievably broken down in late 2019, following efforts by The Museum and the Campbell Family Heritage Trust (CFHT) who gifted the boat to The Museum in 2006, to find an amicable solution to the claims made by Mr Smith regarding ownership and his intentions for the boat.

It is not our intention to comment further on this dispute in public but rather allow matters to be addressed by the lawyers who represent each party.



The Museum made a proposal in 2019 which offered Mr Smith and The Bluebird Project up to 90 days per calendar year available to them for dynamic display of the boat, with the remainder of the year a static display in the purpose built Bluebird Wing at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, subject to certain reasonable criteria.

Additionally the proposal included a facility for a steering committee to be established to manage the future of Bluebird K7, with The Museum relinquishing some of the control usually associated with what is ultimately their property. The Steering Committee was to consist of an equal number of representatives from the Bluebird Project, The Museum and CFHT.

This document was rejected immediately and followed up with a raft of irrelevant complaints about the Bluebird Wing, the floor strength, display security and radioactivity, in what we can only assume was an effort to make things difficult for the Museum. Since then Mr Smith along with other members of The Bluebird Project, volunteers and supporters have publicly and consistently cast The Museum in a poor light, despite it being a registered charity and an establishment accredited by The Arts Council of England and in the TripAdvisor top 10% of visitor attractions worldwide. The comments and jibes have been derogatory against not only The Museum, but also the individual trustees and the whole village of Coniston as well as members of the CFHT.



Bluebird K7 was raised from the bed of Coniston Water in March 2001 where she had lain, effectively undisturbed since the fatal crash that killed Donald Campbell CBE on 4th January 1967. Mr Smith re-located the boat and then recovered her. Mr Smith also located and recovered the body of Donald Campbell CBE in May 2001. The Museum was grateful to Mr Smith and relieved when he offered to lead a team to rebuild and restore Bluebird K7 to her former glory at no cost to the Museum, following failed Lottery bids, and what they have achieved is impressive. That said, however as Mr Smith shows no sign of meeting the original aim of rebuilding the boat for permanent display in The Ruskin Museum, The Museum can no longer leave the situation unresolved and therefore intends to assert its right to request the return of its property

Currently the boat is being worked on at Mr Smith’s North Shields workshop, when she should, be on public display in the purpose-built Bluebird wing in Coniston.

Mr Smith is publicising his intention to run the boat again on Loch Fad, Isle of Bute as was the case in 2018 when “Crew Training” took place. Mr Smith has no permission from The Museum to use its property in this way and The Museum will not be sanctioning any such venture. The museum cannot take any responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of any accommodation or holiday bookings made. To be clear “Bute 2.0” as Mr Smith describes, would be unlawful.

The Museum is resolute in its aim that Bluebird K7 should be restored to her condition immediately prior to the crash and placed on display in the Bluebird Wing. The Museum would support some (relatively) low speed runs with Bluebird K7 and was instrumental along with Coniston Parish Council and others in the drafting of a revised byelaw for Coniston Water to make the process by which boats like Bluebird K7 could be run simpler and more straightforward.

Any running of Bluebird K7 must take account of what is fit and proper for the boat, the lake and lake users as well as the greater Coniston area given that there would be huge interest from the general public and the media.

The Museum hopes that it can rely on the public to support its aspirations and will rally behind it to see Bluebird K7 finally in her purpose-built home in Coniston, only a few hundred yards from where her brave “Donald” Donald is buried.

[Engine 711]

Link to the Statement on Ruskin Museum website (same as above):

https://ruskinmuseum.com/statement-rega ... uebird-k7/

[Healey nut]

At the moment it appears that K7 is going to be parted out and the “wreckage” given back to the Ruskin .
Now wether cooler heads are going to prevail and the parties actually get together like adults and work out the issues remains to be seen .
If K7 is indeed broken up it will be a devastating loss to the historic value that K7 Bluebird has become since it was brought up from the bottom of Coniston Water .
Let’s not forget the countless hours that the “unskilled volunteers” have dedicated to the project and all the donations given to the project by everyday individuals (me included) who wanted the opportunity to see K7 do what she does best ……plane at speed on open water .
The memory of Donald Campbell and the Norris bros will forever be tainted by this charade involving the two parties if it isn’t settled amicably .
Gina has not helped the cause with her seemingly never ending flip flop of being for/against seeing K7 as a dead static display or a living breathing iconic piece of British record breaking history that would inspire generations of youngsters for many years to come .

It’s high time the trustees woke up and engaged in a constructive dialogue with the BBP (with legal representation) and worked out something that secures and ensures the future of K7 so present and future fans of Bluebird K7 can enjoy her as a completed operational craft for static display and running operation .
I’m pretty sure it’s what Donald would want …….
So Ruskin Trustees ……BBP ……..who’s first for the dialogue and let’s keep it civil for K7s sake please .

[Engine 711]

At the moment it appears that K7 is going to be parted out and the “wreckage” given back to the Ruskin.
Now whether cooler heads are going to prevail and the parties actually get together like adults and work out the issues remains to be seen.
It’s high time the trustees woke up and engaged in a constructive dialogue with the BBP....
I’m pretty sure it’s what Donald would want ……

Well said. It would be very sad, bordering on criminal, if Bluebird K7 was now to be 'broken up' - into its constituent parts - old & new.

That simply must not happen.

[Engine 711]

Apparently.... this is now the 'Old' BBP Forum - and there is a new one here:

https://www.bluebirdproject.info/forum



(I have now written a short summary of this Thread there - https://www.bluebirdproject.info/forum/ ... -statement