Stars pay tribute to man who became the voice of F1
WEST Country motor racing stars Jenson Button and Lando Norris were among those who led tributes to legendary Formula One commentator Murray Walker.
The passing of Walker aged 97, whose remarkable broadcasting career spanned more than half a century, was announced on Saturday evening.
Former world champion Button, from Frome in Somerset, said on Twitter: “Today we say farewell to one of the greats of our sport, Murray was the voice of F1 for so many years, he put his heart and soul into commentating.
“The legend will always live on in our memories but today in Murray’s words ‘I’ve got to stop because I have a lump in my throat’.”
He also shared a clip of Walker commentating on his late father John Button in a rally cross race from 1979.
Glastonbury-born McLaren driver Norris tweeted a picture of Walker with the words ‘Rest in peace Murray Walker. Legend.’
Walker, who lived at Fordingbridge near the border of Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset to the south of Salisbury, had a rich and varied life.
While known and loved around for the world for his excitable and brilliant motor racing commentary, he worked as a top advertising executive for many years too.
His colourful turn of phrase made him a natural at coming up with slogans for top brands. Among the accounts he held was for Somerset drink Babycham and he came up with the slogan ‘You’d love a Babycham’.
Walker, who commanded a Sherman tank during the Second World War, reached the rank of captain and had done his initial training at Bovington in Dorset before graduating from Sandhurst. Remarkably after crossing the Rhine in 1945 he bumped into his father, who was covering the war as a journalist.
Tributes to Walker poured in over the weekend from the world of Formula One and beyond.
Three-time world champion Jackie Stewart said: “There will never be another Murray Walker.
“He is one of those people that will be remembered forever and not too many commentators could expect that to happen after their life.
“He was a gentleman of the sport, his command of the English language was huge, so too his excitement and his energy. It is a great loss. I spoke to him not that long ago. He was in a care home and we had a good conversation. There was no lack of Murray Walker.
“I don’t think many people knew he was not living at his home so I don’t think he had had too many calls. I was thrilled to get in contact with him.
“We are all at a certain age where we are seeing friends and colleagues slip away which is very sad, but in the case of Murray, he will never be forgotten.”
At the BBC, Walker was partnered by world champion James Hunt for 13 years before his death in 1993. The clash of personalities – Walker a consummate professional compared to Hunt’s rather laid-back approach – won over the public.
When Hunt died and Formula One headed to ITV in 1997, Walker, appointed an OBE the previous year for his services to broadcasting and motor racing, teamed up with Martin Brundle, whom he would work alongside for five seasons before his final race at the US Grand Prix in 2001.
On Saturday night Brundle tweeted: “Rest In Peace, Murray Walker. Wonderful man in every respect. National treasure, communication genius, Formula One legend.”
1996 world champion Damon Hill said: “Murray has been with me for my whole life and I don’t think anybody thought this day would come, but sadly it has. Maybe old soldiers never die? His legacy and his memory is so strong, and what he gave to so many Formula One fans and number of people he affected he became bigger than the sport so we have got a lot to be thankful to Murray for.”
BBC Director General Tim Davie said: “Over decades, no-one conveyed the excitement and passion of motorsport like Murray Walker. For millions, he was quite simply the voice that captured the spirit of Formula One. Respected by drivers and fans alike, he will be hugely missed.”
Walker is survived by his wife Elizabeth.