Bluebird to feature in first Lady Mayor's Show

Bluebird has been displayed at Coniston's Ruskin Museum since March last year

Donald Campbell's restored Bluebird craft is to feature in the first Lady Mayor's Show.

The hydroplane, which set several water world speed records before its pilot was killed in a crash in 1967, has been on show at Coniston in the Lake District since last year.

Now it has been announced it will be carried on a truck as part of the annual three-mile (4.8km) civic procession being staged in London on 8 November.

Elected last month as the 697th Lord Mayor of London, Dame Susan Langley DBE is the first woman to take the title Lady Mayor, event organisers said.

The show was first staged more than 800 years ago and will once again be broadcast on BBC One with about 350,000 people expected to line the streets.

Coniston's Ruskin Museum, which owns Bluebird, said it was honoured the craft would feature.

Director Tracy Hodgson described Campbell as symbolising "the spirit of innovation, courage and technological progress that defined the mid-20th Century", adding Bluebird would "represent Britain's high-speed record heritage, innovation and achievements".

The Royal British Legion Band will play a specially composed piece of music titled the Bluebird K7 March, which has been written by the Clerk of The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers, Lt Col Craig Hallatt.

The annual show sees a colourful parade of characters take to London's streets

Starting from the official mayoral residence, Mansion House, the show will include more than 7,000 people representing charities, schools and community groups.

There will also be 250 horses and more than 50 decorated floats.

Bluebird remained at the bottom of Coniston Water for decades following Campbell's crash as he attempted to push his own water speed record past 300mph (480km/h).

Recovered in 2001, a lengthy ownership row followed with its restorer, Tyneside engineer Bill Smith.

Upon being settled last year, it was handed to the Ruskin Museum where it is displayed in a dedicated wing of the building.

It is set to make a return to Coniston Water, with museum chiefs having applied to the Lake District National Park Authority to be able to run the craft between 10 and 17 May.