Page 116 - Classics Issue

Malcolm Campbell was a motorcycle racer who had turned his attention to four wheels, calling all his racing cars Bluebird. The Bluebird Motor Company. Winning the French Grand Prix de Boulogne in both 1927 and 1928 driving a Bugatti T39a. Malcolm was obsessed with speed and set his frst world land speed record of 174mph in 1927 only to break it again at 246mph in 1935 and again at 300mph in 1935 – still very respectable even by today’s standards… Campbell also set the water speed record three times between 1937-39 achieving 141.7mph. Each record was set in a car or boat named Bluebird. Malcolm loved boats and he had acquired the Thorneycroft cruiser also named Bluebird in 1931. This vessel is still moored at Cadogan Pier today and Know as Bluebird of Chelsea. It is now owned by the Spanish Ortega family from the Zara fashion house. There is a famous picture from the 1930’s of Campbell’s god daughter, D’Arcy Defries on board Bluebird. D’arcy was of course the daughter of Colin and Stella Defries, Daisy reminds us.Daisy’s Grandmother D’Arcy found herself schooling ponies as a teenager for a number of famous Hollywood names including Roy Rogers and silent movie idol Buddy Rogers, as well as Walt Disney. D’Arcy was never paid for this work but did enjoyed the lavish lifestyle and the parties, “I think that’s where Daddy gets it from”, she laughs. Polo became Grandmothers obsession and she was a highly accomplished player. On her return to Britain D’Arcy initiated the Women’s Polo Club, heading up the Valkyrie Team at Preston Park in Brighton with her best friend Winnie Maxwell. Their team won against the visiting US team and that very trophy from the ‘30’s is today the D’Arcy Defries Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player of the Tournament at the Royal Berkshire Polo Club. So, young Daisy is genuinely “made in Chelsea”, she has two landmarks attached to her family history and a clutch of speed records and polo cups. Her easy style comes across very genuine and grounded. She has held internships with Tag Heuer and Net A Porter, but with the summer season flming ready to start I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of Daisy Robbins on our televisions as well as on social media. As we completed a photoshoot in Chelsea it was clear her following was very strong. Daisy is conscious of her family heritage and the responsibility she feels to live up to her grandmother’s legacy. It seems that speed and cars are in her DNA, although she openly admits that