EVENTS marking the 50th anniversary of the death of world water speed record chaser Donald Campbell carried on in earnest during the week with celebrations throughout the Lake District.

In Glenridding, at the Donald Campbell memorial on the shores of Ullswater, people gathered to remember the speed ace at the site of his very first world water speed record. On July 23, 1955, Mr Campbell clocked in at 202.32mph. It was also the first record set in Bluebird K7.

Becci Ellis, who holds the record as the world's fastest woman on a motorbike, joined members of the Speed Record Club at the memorial to remember Mr Campbell's achievements.

"Donald Campbell and his dad Malcolm were a big part of my life growing up," she said. "I've wanted to do speed records for many years and it's always inspirational for me to hear about others who've done this kind of thing before.

"It's something I'm passionate about and they obviously had the passion as well, but they were just phenomenal."

Speed Record Club chairman Paul Hannaford added: "Ullswater is where the legend started. Prior to that Donald was just his father's son.

"The number of people that have come out to remember him has been brilliant. For the service in Coniston there were probably 300 people and if that's right it's a nice symmetry as that was the number he was aiming for in 1967 (when he died)."

The Lakeland Motor Museum, near Newby Bridge, also held a four-day display of the 1988 film 'Across the Lake' which saw Hollywood star Anthony Hopkins take the lead role as Donald Campbell in the run-up to his final ill-fated record attempt on Coniston Water.

The display, from January 4 to January 7, featured behind the scenes photos from the film and was put together by the Speed Record Club.

Actor Mark Stratton, who played Mr Campbell’s close friend, and team member Anthony "Robbie" Robinson visited the museum on the Saturday alongside Mr Campbell's daughter, Gina.

Chris Lowe, manager of the Lakeland Motor Museum, said, “We’re very proud to have been included in the Speed Record Club's programme of events to pay tribute to record-breaker Donald Campbell. His name is synonymous with the Lake District and his story truly is the stuff of legend.”