Donald Campbell and Bluebird photos discovered

Donald Campbell was pictured preparing for a test run of his boat Bluebird

A photographer has discovered previously unseen pictures of Donald Campbell, famous for his speed records on land and water.

They include shots of Mr Campbell preparing for a test run of his boat Bluebird on Ullswater in the Lake District.

Andrew Price discovered the images in a file of negatives taken by his father, Peter Price, who died in 2020.

"I'm quite proud of my father and I just thought people should see these," he said.

Campbell died during a record attempt in 1967

Campbell set seven water-speed world records, including four on Coniston Water, between 1955 and 1964.

He achieved a further world best on land in 1964 - becoming the only man to set fastest times on water and land in the same year.

Andrew Price discovered the photos of Mr Campbell while going through his father's archive.

"My father left school at the age of 15, joined the Daily Mail as an apprentice, worked for the Daily Sketch, covered the Busby Babes, the Munich crash, numerous celebrities, Toxteth riots," he said.

"He covered some big stories."

Peter Price photographed many major news stories

Campbell was killed in January 1967 as he attempted to set a new water speed world record on Coniston.

He had been bidding to beat his record of 276mph (444km/h) when Bluebird somersaulted on 4 January 1967.

A dive team were only able to raise the wreckage in March 2001.

Campbell's body was then recovered on 28 May that year and buried in the village.

Donald Campbell set records on land and water

Mr Price found the photographs after chancing upon a bag of negatives with "Donald Campbell early attempt Ullswater" written on it.

"I just thought wow," he said.

"These pictures show the Bluebird K-7 in the workshop, and then being launched, Donald getting into the cockpit, putting his cap on and closing the canopy."

An early Lake District test run of Bluebird

There are also photos of people on the shore watching the boat, the vehicle going at speed in the water, as well as the boat being towed.

The photos are "quite unique", said Mr Price.

"They’ve been hidden away for almost 70 years and they’ve got to be out there," he said.

Donald Campbell and Bluebird drew in the crowds

A team helped Campbell's attempts at ever greater records

Andrew Price found the photographs after his father died

Mr Price said he hopes the photos go on display.

"A museum would be its rightful place, they need to be seen by the public," he said.

People gathered along the shore to catch a glimpse of Bluebird