Commentating legend Murray Walker has confessed he had never heard of Birmingham’s Walk of Stars before being selected to join the city’s role of honour.
The F1 legend today joined city stars such as Noddy Holder, Ozzy Osbourne and Jasper Carrott with a star in his name placed on Broad Street.
While in town he was also treated to a gala dinner at the Hyatt and signed copies of his new book.
The 84-year-old, who was born in Hall Green, said: “To be brutally honest I had never heard of it. I knew about the one in LA but I didn’t realise they had done it in Birmingham. It’s something I certainly didn’t expect, but it’s nice to be honoured in my home town.”
Now living in Hampshire he has rarely been back to the Midlands since the Second World War.
“I don’t get there very often these days,” he said. “During the war I worked at Fort Dunlop and when it ended I stayed in Birmingham for a couple of years in Holly Lane, Erdington, until 1949 before I moved to London.”
It was only natural Murray should take a shine to the sport of F1. His father Graham was a motorcycling world champion who went on to commentate for the BBC.
“When the war ended I started racing motorcycles but I always say, those that can do, those that can’t talk about it.” Murray had a successful career in advertising and initially broadcasting was a hobby.
“I had an audition with the BBC in 1948 and that led to me doing the Grand Prix at Silverstone and it all grew from that. It didn’t really became my whole life until I retired.”
Well known for his gaffes, or “Murrayisms” as they have come to be known, he says his favourite is: “The car in front is unique - except for the one behind it, which is identical.”
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