Award for museum chief who landed Bluebird return

Tracy Hodgson was presented with her award by Cumbria Tourism's president, Jim Walker

A museum director has won a top tourism prize for her work securing the return of Donald Campbell's record-breaking craft Bluebird to the Lake District.

Tracy Hodgson, of Coniston's Ruskin Museum, was named Personality of the Year at the annual Cumbria Tourism Awards with judges praising her "remarkable dedication".

Campbell's hydroplane has been on show at the museum since March last year following the resolution of a long-running ownership row with Tyneside engineer Bill Smith, who led its restoration.

It was recovered from Coniston Water in 2001 - 34 years after Campbell lost his life in a crash as he tried to break his own world water speed record.

On display in a dedicated wing of the museum after being transported from Mr Smith's North Shields workshop, the site's annual visitor numbers rose from 10,000 to more than 60,000 in 2024.

Bosses are aiming to return the craft to the lake at some point in 2026 where it will be piloted by Australian Dave Warby, son of the late-water speed world-record holder Ken Warby.

• Donald Campbell's Bluebird: The battle back to Coniston

Campbell's daughter, Gina, said Ms Hodgson had fought with "passion and ferocity" for Bluebird's return.

"Tracy has worked so hard. She had so much dedication and tenacity.

"Without her, it possibly wouldn't have happened."

Onlookers cheered as Bluebird arrived in Coniston in March last year

Businessman Phil Johnston, who nominated Ms Hodgson for the award, said she had "galvanised" the efforts to get the craft back to its "spiritual home" at Coniston.

Accepting the accolade, Ms Hodgson thanked the volunteers who formed Mr Smith's Bluebird Project restoration team "because without their dedication over the years we wouldn't have a boat to display".

The craft's future had previously been uncertain.

It had taken to the water in Scotland in August 2018 with Mr Smith later vowing to "fight to the death" over what he said was his stake in it due to the repairs he had carried out.

However, in February last year it was announced he had relinquished his claim.

As part of the legal settlement, Mr Smith paid £25,000 towards the museum's legal costs and it was also agreed he would have no "further right, title or interest" in the craft.