Robbie Lambie, one of the few people to have competed on the local scene in six decades, was 60 on Sunday. Robbie represented the Isle of Man in the 30km Walk at the 1978 and 1982 Commonwealth Games and has been a member of Boundary Harriers, Western AC and the Isle of Man Veteran Athletes Club. His best years were as a walker when serving with the RAF but he has competed in a range of track events since.

His brother Stuart was for many years a top sprinter and his sister Mary is mother of cyclist and runner Christian Varley. Married to Linda they have two children Zoe and Katie. Zoe won a special award in this year’s Manx Telecom Parish Walk.

Often the butt of jokes for his (alleged) unwillingness to buy his share of drinks at the bar, Robbie is actually a sensitive and caring person. Nowhere is this better represented than his ability to write obituaries – he is unofficial chief obituary writer for this site!

Robbie’s generation – David Anderson, Robbie Lambie, Steve Higgins and Brian Cowley who all competed in the Commonwealth Games in their younger years.

TT Relay Walk 42 years ago.