campbell was born on 25 may 1957 in keighley, west riding of yorkshire, son of a scottish veterinary surgeon, donald campbell, and his wife elizabeth. campbell's parents had moved to keighley when his father became a partner in a local veterinary practice. donald was a gaelic-speaker from the island of tiree; his wife was from ayrshire. campbell grew up with two older brothers, donald and graeme, and a younger sister, elizabeth.