• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

  • Sport
    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

  • Sport
    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Widow of Donald Campbell dies at California home

by CWH
30 June 2021
in Latest, Obituaries
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Tonia Bern-Campbell and Donald Campbell

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.

Related Posts

Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank
Latest

Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

19 July 2025
Jean Bloomfield – a woman who had an enormous impact
Obituaries

Jean Bloomfield – a woman who had an enormous impact

18 July 2025
Five boxes of nitrous oxide seized from car in Penrith
Latest

Five boxes of nitrous oxide seized from car in Penrith

17 July 2025
Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze
Latest

Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze

17 July 2025
Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape
Latest

Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

11 July 2025
Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme
Latest

Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

8 July 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

18 July 2025
Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

19 July 2025
Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

18 July 2025
Five boxes of nitrous oxide seized from car in Penrith

Five boxes of nitrous oxide seized from car in Penrith

17 July 2025
Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

18 July 2025
Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze

Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze

17 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald