Sir, – I was there last Sunday as old racing cars roared round Farnham's town centre in a fitting tribute to Mike Hawthorn. Earlier St Andrew's Parish Church was crammed full of people attending the memorial service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mike's death.

I can remember Mike in the 50s, tall, blond and goodlooking, smart-suited, and, sporting his usual bow-tie, striding up West Street. I can remember his visits to the Surrey & Hants News office to see my boss, John Penrose, who he called "Mon ami mate!"

I can remember the day Mike was killed, January 22, 1959. That lunch-time a deathly hush seemed to settle over the town as the news spread, and, people read the newsbill on the stand in The Borough. The news was so shocking, and, hard to believe as Mike had just become World Champion racing driver, driving on dangerous race tracks around the world, and yet, he had been killed on the Guildford by-pass. My boss sat in his office with tear-filled eyes.

I remember the day of Mike's funeral. A very cold day when the frost didn't lift all day. Many great racing drivers of the time came to the service at St Andrew's. All our office staff went to the church, all except one reporter, Janice Spedding, and, me. Later in the afternoon we were allowed to walk up to the cemetery to pay our respects.

Apart from the celebratory dinner, and, an illuminated address presented to Mike by Farnham Urban District Council in 1958, and, the building of the ill-fated cricket pavilion, dedicated to him, in the park, Farnham has never given Mike the permanent recognition he deserves. There is not much in Farnham these days to remind people that Mike Hawthorn spent all but the first two years of his life living in the town. The two oak commemorative benches placed outside the sports centre in 1986 have long since disappeared, only the plaque on Sainsbury's wall in South Street, and, the road sign "Mike Hawthorn Drive" remain – at least the sign is at the entrance of the town and might possibly catch someone's eye, and, jog their memory. In 1981 Waverley Borough Council even snubbed a petition, containing seven-and-a-half thousand names, and refused to name the new sports centre after him.

Other towns have fitting memorials to their heroes, and, well-known figures. When will there be a statue of Mike Hawthorn? It could be as dramatic as the Lion and Lamb sculpture, and, a great talking point.

Mike was the first ever British World Champion racing driver. It took courage and daring to achieve that accolade. Mike deserves to have a lasting memorial in the town he called his home.

Maureen Covey, Hurlands Close, Farnham