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Bluebird Legal Battle: £150k Claim Against Museum
19 Sep
Summary
- A legal battle is underway over a £147,162 claim against the Ruskin Museum.
- The claim concerns items and cash allegedly provided to the museum.
- Museum disputes the claim, stating items were donations.
The Ruskin Museum, home to Donald Campbell's Bluebird hydroplane, is involved in a legal dispute nearing £150,000. Paul Kinghan has initiated a claim for £147,162, asserting this amount represents items and cash he supplied to the museum that have not been reimbursed.
Kinghan's claim specifically relates to three engines he purchased for the museum's plans to operate Bluebird in the Lake District earlier this year. Two of these engines were subsequently sold, with Kinghan reportedly giving the proceeds to the museum. The third engine remains with the institution.
According to Kinghan, these engines and other contributions were made under the belief that museum management were suitable custodians for the historic boat. He now seeks repayment, stating he feels misled and let down by their conduct.
Museum director Tracey Hodgson countered that donations cannot be reclaimed and stated the museum possesses documentation confirming the unconditional nature of Kinghan's contributions. The claim has been forwarded to the museum's legal advisors, with the next steps dependent on Kinghan's decision to pursue legal action.
This situation follows a previous protracted legal challenge by engineer Bill Smith, who recovered and restored Bluebird. Smith's subsequent ownership claim was contested by Donald Campbell's daughter, Gina Campbell, and the museum, before he ultimately relinquished the hydroplane to the Ruskin Museum.
