THE DAUGHTER of Coniston water speed ace Donald Campbell has called for her late father to be honoured with a posthumous knighthood.

Gina Campbell was just 17-years-old when her father was killed while piloting the 300mph jet-powered boat Bluebird K7 on Coniston in January 1967.

Ms Campbell called for the knighthood while unveiling an award-winning memorial garden in honour of her father at the RHS Flower Show in Tatton Park, Cheshire.

“I think my father’s achieve-ments warranted a knighthood,” she said.

“It would be a very fitting tribute. Here we are all these years after his death and we are still talking about him.”

The garden, designed by Coniston landscaper and dry-stone waller Andy Loudon, features the life-size replica of Bluebird from the Lakeland Motor Museum at Holker Hall. Competing against 16 other gardens, it scooped a gold medal.

Using Burlington slate, it weaves the Campbell ‘infinity’ figure-eight motive into a seated wall, and was planted with flowers from Beetham Nurseries near Milnthorpe.

Ms Campbell, 59, said: “The garden looks absolutely amazing.

“I think my father would have been absolutely chuffed with it.

“He was always a big nature lover, and to see Bluebird sitting here in pride of place is wonderful.”

Donald Campbell set seven water speed records in Bluebird K7 between 1955 and 1964. As well as his exploits on the water, he set a land speed record of 403mph in his Bluebird CN7 car in 1964. He was awarded the CBE in 1957.

Donald inherited his love of racing from father, Sir Malcolm Campbell, who set the water speed record four times, the highest being on Coniston Water in August 1939.

“I think he was always a little disappointed he did not get a knighthood like his father did. He always very much wanted to be his father’s son, and do the same things,” said Ms Campbell.

Donald died at the controls of Bluebird while attempting to better his own water speed record on Coniston.

Having completed a perfect North South run of the lake at world record pace, Bluebird was passing near Peel Island on the return leg when it took off, somersaulted through the air and plunged into the lake nose first.

The wreckage was recovered from the lake in 2001 by Newcastle-based diver Bill Smith.

His Project Bluebird team is rebuilding the craft ahead of high-speed trials of the rebuilt craft on Coniston in 2010. Donald’s body was also recovered and buried in the parish cemetery, Hawkshead Old Road, Coniston.

Ms Campbell, who lives near Leeds, said she was looking forward to returning to her family’s former home of Coniston to watch the trials.

She said: “The people of South Lakeland know that it’s an area very close to my family’s heart.”

Although some people think otherwise there is no precedent for posthumous knighthoods. British golfer Sir Henry Cotton accepted his knighthood but died before he could collect it.

Despite this, there have been several long-running campaigns to award posthumous honours.

In 2007, Tony Blair wrote to Liverpool FC fans to explain that three-time European Cup winning manager, Bob Paisley, could not be awarded the honour.

There have also been campaigns for the late Nottingham Forest manager, Brian Clough, Beatle George Harrison and Heartbeat artist Tony Hart. Cabinet Office spokeswoman Sinead Keller, said: “The honours system is designed to honour living people rather than commemorate those who have died.

"As an honour represents membership of an order, for example an Order of the British Empire, it can only be awarded to those who are alive.

“On death a recipient ceases to be a member of that order.”