A blue plaque in memory of the celebrated race walker Murray Lambden, who died in April 2017, is to be unveiled by the Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Jonathan Joughin JP and Mr Lambden’s widow, Mrs Marie Lambden.

The unveiling will be open to the public and will take place at 6pm on Friday June 22, the day before the 2018 Parish Walk, an event in which Mr Lambden was a leading figure for many years, first as a competitor and winner in 1978 then as administrator and developer of the event’s live streaming website.

In recognition of Mr Lambden’s long association with the Parish Walk the site chosen for the plaque is the wall of the northernmost of the Marine Gardens, near to the Parish Walk finishing line.

Douglas Borough Council Leader Councillor David Christian MBE JP said: ‘Murray Lambden was a remarkable man whose achievements went far beyond sport. He was an influential figure who not only epitomised sport’s finest qualities but was also dedicated to encouraging sporting endeavour in others. His wider involvement, with his wife Marie, in the community has left a lasting and tangible legacy, especially his work in helping to transform the lives of those living with autism.

‘Simply put Murray was an inspiring ambassador – for sport, for Douglas and for the Isle of Man. It is fitting, therefore, that the Council pay tribute to his memory with a blue plaque at a site which will, forever, be associated with Murray’s success in and abiding passion for the Parish Walk.’