The Bluebird Boozer Mystery

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By Michael E Ware: The Lakeland Motor Museum has an extensive display devoted to the Campbell family, father and son. This collection was put together by Don Sidebottom who, some 15 years ago, bought at the Beaulieu Autojumble what must have been a pub sign (click main pic!). It that depicts the final run by Sir Malcolm Campbell at Bonneville salt flats, Utah in September 1935 when he raised the Worlds Land Speed record to 301.13 mph. This was the last time this car ran in anger. The original location of the pub from which this sign came is a mystery, can any one throw any light on it?
It is well known that Campbell called his cars Bluebird (and painted them blue) after having seen a play in 1911 or 1912 at the London Haymarket Theatre entitled "The Blue Bird of Happiness" (a blue bird being a variety of north American thrush). Quickly the name got corrupted to Bluebird. Why then did the pub call it "The Blue Bird" when the sign could not have been painted before 1935? Or is there another explanation? Please tell us!

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