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Bluebird story flies

September, 2017

Kent PR agency Maxim helped secure national media coverage for client Markerstudy Leisure and its venue Bewl Water, when Sir Malcolm Campbell’s restored Bluebird K3 was rolled out for a public test day.

Commissioned in 1937 to rival the Americans’ efforts in the fight for the world water speed record, Bluebird K3 set three records with Sir Malcolm Campbell at the helm, two in two days on Lake Maggiore in September 1937, before raising the bar to 130.91mph at Lake Hallwyl in Switzerland in August 1938.

Part of the Foulkes Halbard Collection housed at Filching Manor Motor Museum near Eastbourne, Bluebird K3 has been undergoing an extensive restoration over a 20-year period.

She underwent a two-day test with the second day open to media and the public.

Working with the Bewl Water and Bluebird K3 teams, Maxim secured pre-event coverage locally, regionally and nationally, including the Daily Mail and Daily Express, along with extensive social media activity.

On the public test day, hundreds of people visited Bewl Water to view Bluebird K3 in action.

Widespread media coverage

Media attendees included ITN, Channel 5 News, BBC South East, ITV Meridian, PA News, Getty Images, the Daily Telegraph, London News and Pictures and national freelance photographers.

Maxim, working with Bewl Water staff, accommodated media requests for opportunities to film and photograph test runs from the water on two of Bewl Water’s working boats. Drone operators from many of the news outlets captured some stunning aerial images.

Live interviews for lunchtime bulletins were also arranged for ITN and BBC South East.

However, as is often the case, breaking news intervened and the sad death of former Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn meant the ITN interview was cancelled at the last moment.

The Bluebird K3 test team and Bewl Water staff remained on site late into the day to allow reporters Derek Johnson and Robin Gibson to present live links into the evening bulletins for ITV Meridian and BBC South East respectively.

Coverage secured included Channel 5 NewsDaily TelegraphDaily Mail and the Daily Express

Regional coverage around the UK via PA News included The ScotsmanThe Belfast Telegraph and South Wales Argus

Andrew Daniells, Chief Operating Officer of Markerstudy Leisure, said: “We knew the Bluebird K3 trial run at Bewl Water would be of great interest.

“Maxim used their network of media contacts to raise the Bewl and Bluebird profile during the lead up and on the day efficiently managed the numerous media teams who attended.

“The result was valuable national TV and print coverage for Bewl Water and Markerstudy Leisure.”

posted in: maxim/client news, media relations,

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