Ideal start for voice of How Birmingham-born Murray Walker’s father helped pave the way for his famous commentator son’s career decades down the road
IN THE Birmingham suburb of Hall Green, on October 10, 1923, a legendary voice uttered its first cries.
That infant wail would eventually be honed to become one of the most recognisable in the country decades later.
For 9lb 12oz Graeme Murray Walker – the son of Graham and Elsie – would grow up to be a true legend of sports commentary. Drop the first name and you have Murray Walker, for decades the voice of motorsport in Britain.
Considering his father’s interest in motorbikes and racing, Walker’s passion for anything petrol is not surprising.
Sergeant Graham William Walker served in the First World War with the signals company of the Royal Engineers Regiment.
In the course of his duties on the Western Front as a dispatch rider, he was injured by a German shell and was sent to Grove Hospital, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, to recover.
It was one of many hospitals requisitioned by the War Office.
Between 1913 and 1916 The Grove treated over 15,000 officers and other ranks. On his return to his regiment, he was presented with a new motorcycle, specially modified to cope with his leg injuries.
Even before hostilities began, at the age of 18, Walker Snr was passionate about motorcycles, a subject which probably occupied his mind a great deal when confined to his bed at The Grove Hospital, along with 550 other wounded comrades.
As was often the case in wartime, Walker Snr’s wife-to-be, Elsie Spratt, was one of many nurses whose tireless dedication became a cornerstone of the British resolve.
In 1925 the family relocated to Wolverhampton when Walker Snr senior clinched a top job with motor company Sunbeam. He was recruited for the firm’s motorcycle racing team.
His former employer was the much-fabled Birmingham-based Norton motorcycle company. He had gained countless awards for the hallowed Bracebridge Street factory, such as second place in the 1923 Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy).
At the time the TT was heralded as the most important of the world’s motorcycle competitions. Boss John Marston successfully tempting Walker Snr to Sunbeam was indeed a coup, as the year ahead proved to be one of the most successful for the Sunbeamland, Paul Street, works located in the Penn Wolverhampton.
Outright victories in highly-contested, international TT races in Austria, Italy and Hungary, plus a 24-hour event in France, sat nicely with nine gold medals, won in punishing overland trials in his homeland.
The following year Walker Snr took the chequered flag, claiming victory in the Grand Prix of Europe, riding a 350cc OHV (Overhead Valve) factory-prepared Sunbeam.
Commonly described as the ultimate challenge for rider and machine, the Isle of Man TT circuit of 37.73 miles is staged on closed public roads notable for having 200 bends and several hair-raising bridges.
The race is run through town centres flanked by the hazards of walls, buildings, kerbs, trees and roadside posts.
Mist and often thick fog at the highest point on the 1,300ft Snaefell mountain can also pose an unwelcome menace. A typical Senor TT race at the time meant riders endured up to four hours in the saddle.
Graham Walker’s best ever finish for Sunbeam was fifth in the 1927 Senior TT at an average speed of 64.72mph.
While we have no record of the weather conditions at the time, in the following year, the renowned rider Charlie Dobson won the event for Sunbeam at the slightly slower average speed of 62.98mph.
At the Ulster Grand Prix a couple of months later, Walker Snr became the first Grand Prix winner to hit an average speed of 80mph.
Charlie Dobson, another member of the Sunbeam racing team, lost out by only 11 seconds in the contest, which is recorded as being comparable to two gladiators in wheel-to-wheel combat for over two-and-a-half hours. Dodson had suffered serious injuries in World War One in the quagmire that was the Western Front in France.
Walker’s hopes of winning the Isle of Man TT finally came to fruition in 1931, as he took the the lightweight (250cc) class trophy. By then, he was sales and competition director for Coventry firm Rudge-Whitworth.
He retired from the sport around 1935 and, three years later, became editor of Motor Cycling magazine, a position he held until 1954.
With the storm clouds of World War Two gathering, the man who had spent most of his working days championing the merits of twowheeled transportation was tasked by the Home Office with recruiting Fields area of dispatch riders for the armed forces Almost as if he was paving the way for son Murray, Walker Snr also joined the BBC as a motorcycle race commentator. It must have been a joyous occasion when, in 1949, father, then 53, and his 26-year-old son partnered several live commentaries for the BBC.
Graham Walker the age of 66.
Son Murray celebrated his 95th birthday in September this year.
His autobiography, published died in 1962 at in 2002, is a long list of highlights and awards from his broadcasting career. For many, his voice will be memorable for his uniquely passionate commentating style during 350 Formula One motor racing Grand Prix events in 21 different countries.
While his father excelled on twowheeled machines, son Murray preferred four – but he never forgot Murray Senior’s influence – a start in life that helped create a much-loved national treasure.