HUNDREDS gathered at Coniston yesterday to pay their respects to speed ace Donald Campbell who died on the lake half a century ago pursuing his dream of breaking the world water speed record.

Before the morning sun had even risen over Grizedale Forest, scores of visitors assembled at Coniston Launch waiting for an RAF flyover, set to commemorate the tragic moment Bluebird K7 somersaulted. Campbell was killed instantly in the crash which happened shortly before 9am on January 4 1967.

The RAF planes did not arrive but the mood of the day was not to be affected. This was a time to remember Donald Campbell – the only man to ever break both land and water speed records in the same year. Of his seven water speed records, four were set on Coniston Water.

A poignant service was held at the Campbell Memorial led by the K7 Club and the Rev Canon David Peacock. Mr Campbell's daughter, Gina, was among many who laid wreaths to mark the occasion.

"Why me?" she said. "Why am I so lucky to be his daughter – here to represent him today? It's 50 years on and each year and each day I feel the same emotion. It's a huge pride that I feel for what my father achieved and the legacy he left us. I'm humbled."

Tony Robinson, president of the K7 Club, whose members include friends who assisted Campbell in his record exploits, added: "It's a slightly sad occasion remembering a tragic accident but it's also a time that we should celebrate all the successes and the good times because there were a great many.

"It's marvellous so many people have turned up to remember Donald. I don't know how many but you could count them in the hundreds and that's just a reflection of how highly Donald Campbell was held by people."

As services at the village memorial and Mr Campbell's grave in the churchyard at St Andrew's Parish Church came to an end, visitors spread throughout Coniston.

Many chose to learn more about Mr Campbell in the Bluebird Wing of the Ruskin Museum, while there was also a book signing with David de Lara, the author of Donald Campbell 300 plus: The Speed Odyssey: His Life with Bluebird.

"There's been huge interest," said museum curator Vicky Slowe. "We've had great interest not just from the UK but as far as Russia, even Australia.

"The connection with Coniston goes back to Sir Malcolm Campbell – his father – in 1939 when he broke the record about a fortnight before war broke out."

Steven and Jenny Mullard, who were attending the celebrations after travelling from Coventry, both remember the day Bluebird sank.

"It was just so shocking at the time," said Mrs Mullard. "That's why it's stuck in our minds all these years. The service was very good – it's been excellent."

Steve Cartwright, from Windermere, added: "I'm here to pay my respects. I wanted to come to be a part of today – he would have just been one of the lads – it's just so sad."