Sir Malcolm Campbell, English sportsman and racer, c 1930s.

Photograph. Campbell (1885-1949) was the holder of both land and water speed records from 1927 onwards. In 1935 he became the first man travel at over 300 mph on land, reaching 301.1291 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA. In 1939 he achieved his fastest speed on water with 141.74 mph. He called all his racing cars and speed boats 'Bluebird' after the symbol of unattainability in the play of that name by Maurice Maeterlinck.