The widow of legendary speed record-breaker Donald Campbell — Tonia Bern-Campbell — has died at her home in Palm Springs, California.
On July 23 1955, Donald Campbell achieved two historic milestones on Ullswater.
He set a new world water speed record and broke the 200mph barrier on water.
Here began a long record-breaking relationship with his jet boat Bluebird K7, the world’s first all metal jet-powered hydroplane.
K7 went on to help Campbell set seven world water speed records between 1955 and 1964.
The very first of which he broke on a summer’s day on Ullswater more than half a century ago, achieving a speed of 202.32 mph
(325.60 km/h).
Tonia was highly amused by the fact that her birthday was recorded incorrectly in her passport, so her date of birth is unclear. It is believed that she was 93 years old and born on November 8, 1927, and christened Antoinette Marie.
Tonia spent three years studying acting at the Conservatoire Royale in Brussels, won her first stage success in Paris at the age of 16, and went on to headline
in such prestigious places as Carnegie Hall, The Savoy in London and in Monte Carlo and Las Vegas.
Family friend and relation Maurice Chevalier encouraged her to enter a talent contest when she was still a teenager.
She won the competition, which had composer-singer Jacques Brel as one of the judges. He went on to coach her in his singing style.
It was whilst performing at the Savoy in December 1958 that she met British land speed legend Donald Campbell.
They were married a few days later at Caxton Hall on the December 24.
Tonia immediately settled into being a member of the Bluebird team.
She put a temporary hold on her singing career, and accompanied Donald on many of his record attempts, most notably in 1964 to Australia, where he broke both the land and water speed records in the same year.
Tonia always described Donald as her soulmate and the love of her life.
The pair had a passionate but volatile relationship.
After Donald Campbell’s accident on Coniston Water in 1967, while attempting a new water speed record in the Bluebird K7 hydroplane, Tonia returned to
her singing career helped and encouraged by Maurice Chevalier.
She emigrated to America, eventually living in the mountains above Los Angeles.
