Morecambe Sea Scouts this morning left the Central Pier for the Jamboree to be held at Blackpool. They are taking with them the flag Sir Henry Segrave presented to their Scoutmaster at Windermere, just before he went out to his death. This is the flag which was carried 100 miles an hour on the Wednesday night.
Hartlepool Mail 21 June 1930
Sir Henry O’Neil de Hane Segrave (22 September 1896 – 13 June 1930) was famous for setting three land speed records and the water speed record. He was the first person to hold both the land and water speed records simultaneously. He was the first person to travel at over 200 mph (320 km/h) in a land vehicle. The Segrave Trophy was established in 1930 to commemorate his life.
A few months after receiving his knighthood, on Friday 13 June 1930, Sir Henry Segrave unknowingly captured the water speed record driving Miss England II on England’s largest natural lake, Windermere. In a follow-up run the boat presumably hit a log and capsized, killing Miss England’s mechanic, Victor Halliwell. Segrave’s unconscious body was recovered, and taken to a hospital. He regained consciousness for a moment, was informed that he had indeed broken the record, then died a few moments later of lung haemorrhages.
