Popular TV commentator, Grahame Murray Walker OBE, has died aged 97 years.

Born on 10th October 1923, he was known throughout his life as Murray Walker, he was the son of racing motorcyclist Graham Walker who was also a motorcycle journalist and early radio commentator. Graham also won the Lightweight TT in 1931 on a Rudge.

Murray’s first experience of motorsport was actually motorcycling and he took up trials riding and competed in the 1949 Scottish Six Days in which he finished on 182 marks riding his privately entered 490cc Norton and took home a first class award. He also competed in an ISDT in which he won a gold medal.

Known as the ‘voice of Formula 1’, Walker was a well respected character in the Grand Prix movement and was well-known amongst drivers, constructors and the Formula 1 management.

He also commentated on many scrambles events in the 1960s for the BBC Grandstand Winter Scrambles series.

Although he was known world-wide for being a motorsport commentator, his main employment was in advertising.

Photo Credit: Matthew Spencer, 2009