COWLEY athlete Maureen Gardner was hailed a heroine when she brought back a silver medal from the 1948 London Olympics.

But almost 64 years on, the achievement of thelate mum-of-two has become lost in the pages of history.

Now a group of people have started a campaign to get a blue plaque put up at her former home in Maidcroft Road and reignite memories of her triumph.

Miss Gardner was just 20 and a major British hopeful in the 80m hurdles when she went to compete at the London Olympics in August 1948.

The so-called ‘Austerity Games’ were the first to be held after the Second World War, when rationing was still in place.

Incredibly, she recorded the same time as gold medalist and star of the games Fanny Blankers-Koen, who was known as the “Dutch housewife”.

The two both smashed the previous world record and timed 11.2 seconds, but it was decided the Dutch competitor had just pipped her to the post.

The next day’s Oxford Mail read: “The two raced shoulder to shoulder over the hurdles well in front of the rest of the field and it was only an electrifying last-second hurl at the tape which gave the blonde Dutchwoman victory.”

Greater Leys resident June Parsons, 80, recalled: “I grew up a few streets away from Maureen and she was a lovely girl.

“She used to be a secretary at St Christopher’s Primary School and used to teach dance as well. Her dad was so proud.”

Mrs Parsons said: “I just think she deserves a blue plaque to let people know what she did. We should remember people like her, she contributed a lot.

“She was a lovely person, very shy, but lovely.”

Miss Gardner, a former Oxford Central Girls’ School pupil, was secretary at St Christopher’s at the time and all the children were given a day off in celebration. She was also a ballet teacher.

A month later, a civic reception was held at the Town Hall hosted by the deputy mayor.

She married her coach Geoff Dyson and the couple had two children. It is believed she died at the age of 45 in 1974.

City councillor Stuart Craft, leading the campaign, said: “Maureen Gardner was beaten to the gold medal by just two inches.

“She broke the world record and yet a lot of people haven’t heard of her.

“It’s a shame that she’s not up there in lights like a lot of our other famous athletes. But this year seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring her memory back.”

Oxford Civic Society administers the blue plaque scheme.

A blue plaque in honour of Sir Roger Bannister already exists at the Iffley Road running track, where he broke the four-minute mile in 1954.

Oxford Civic Society vice-president Tony Joyce said: “We are always very pleased to have suggestions from the public for possible candidates for blue plaques.”

* To submit an application visit oxfordcivicsoc.co.uk