FOND memories of former Haslemere Mayor James Mackie have inspired three permanent memorials in the town.

A packed service at St Bartholomew’s Church to celebrate the many achievements of the man better known to many as ‘Mr Haslemere’, was followed the next day by the official unveilings of two plaques and a bench.

Residents were shocked by Mr Mackie’s untimely death last November, after he was hit by a car while crossing the High Street near the town hall. A month earlier, friends and family had gathered for a big party in Haslemere to celebrate his 90th birthday.

Mr Mackie’s sons Simon, Sandy, Hugh and Toby, and close friend Ann Fitchett donated a new bench in his memory at Haslemere War Memorial Recreation Ground, which was the focus of a major campaigning triumph on behalf of the town.

Paying tribute at the unveiling to Mr Mackie’s successful battle to have the recreation ground restored to its rightful name, town councillor and Hindhead Royal British Legion representative William King, said Haslemere War Memorial Committee had gifted the nine-acre site to the town in 1920, but its significance as a war memorial was subsequently forgotten.

In 2012, Mr Mackie paid for a full research to be conducted to establish the recreation ground’s correct designation, which was confirmed in 2013 by the Imperial War Museum.

Mr Mackie’s family and friends were delighted to be surprised on the same day by two more unveilings in his honour by Haslemere Town Council.

One plaque – ‘Mackie’s Way’ – was unveiled on his house in the High Street in memory of his much-used route along a public footpath, to the many functions he attended at Haslemere Hall, and a second plaque was unveiled next to plaque to his late wife Daphne on the back of the bench gifted in her memory outside the town hall.

Simon said: “Haslemere War Memorial Recreation Ground was my father’s big campaign that he worked so hard with others to achieve for the town. The bench is a very fitting tribute and his family like to think it will be there for the enjoyment of many residents.

“We were very moved and touched by the town council unveiling two memorial plaques on the same day.”