Norman Buckley Receives MBE for Achievements

On 3 June 1972, Norman Buckley was awarded the MBE in recognition of his achievements in powerboat racing and record-breaking on Windermere. Norman, who had acquired the lease of Low Wood in 1952 and subsequently purchased the property, combined his involvement in the family hotel business with a longstanding interest in high-speed boating. His record-breaking career was closely connected with Windermere and his series of Miss Windermere hydroplanes. During the 1950s he secured four world water-speed records in Miss Windermere II and Miss Windermere III, before adding further records with later boats. Official international records confirm his achievements on Windermere, while Lakeland Arts records that Miss Windermere IV alone was used to set four world records between 1959 and 1972. Norman also played an important role in the wider history of British powerboat record attempts. In January 1967, he served as an official during Donald Campbell's fatal attempt to break the world water-speed record in Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water. The Guardian The MBE recognised a sporting career that became closely associated with both Windermere and the history of Low Wood.