A BLUE plaque dedicated to the Cowley girl who won an Olympic silver medal will be unveiled this weekend, thanks to a local campaign.

In February, residents contacted the Oxford Mail to say they believed the memory of Maureen Gardner had been lost in history.

The former Temple Cowley pupil was just 20 when she competed in the 1948 ‘Austerity Games’ in London and lost out on the gold medal in the 80m hurdles by just two inches of track.

She was welcomed back home as a heroine – but following her death at the age of just 46, many people forgot her achievements.

It is now hoped a blue plaque on the house she grew up in will rekindle stories of her triumph for a new generation.

Her brother Michael, 79, from Woodstock said: “It is all quite exciting, not many people can say their sister has a blue plaque in her memory.

“Roger Bannister will unveil it on Saturday and I’ll be saying a few words. A few anecdotes about her, her achievements and what kind of woman she was.”

He added: “I’m proud, of course I am. Who wouldn’t be?”

Miss Gardner competed in the 80m hurdles at Wembley and was just pipped to the post by ‘Dutch housewife’ Fanny Blankers-Koen. They both smashed the world record at 11.2 seconds, but it was decided the Dutch competitor had won by two inches.

Miss Gardner went on to marry her coach Geoffrey Dyson at St Mary Magdalen Church, Oxford, in 1948, following the Games.

She had two children and was appointed chief examiner to the Royal Academy of Dance.

Her son Tim will also be at Saturday’s unveiling ceremony.

Last night, Stuart Craft from the Independent Working Class Association, who helped with the campaign for the blue plaque, said he was delighted.

“We are very pleased,” he said. “It will be lovely to see her family there at the old family home.

“And it is important for all the children who learned about Maureen and were involved in the campaign to hear her story and to realise if you put yourself out, you can get the results.”

The unveiling takes place at 11am on Saturday at 17 Maidcroft Road, Cowley – two days before the Olympic torch arrives in Oxford.