AM David Walker
Very, very sad news indeed. He was a great RAF officer and a really nice guy too. Gone far too early.
Sending commiserations and best wishes to Catherine and his whole family.
Sending commiserations and best wishes to Catherine and his whole family.
David Walker's wife Catherine has asked me to post this email which was sent to family and friends on Sunday.
[I am struggling to post the photo he asked to be used, but will try again later]
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Dear all,
I am completely devastated to have to let you know that David very sadly died this afternoon, incredibly peacefully in my arms, at home, with his adored little dogs beside us. The cancer had tragically deteriorated.
I cannot comprehend his loss, for me, his boys, sister, aunt and wider family. And for you his friends. Every one of you receiving this email will have your own affection, respect and admiration for David, and you will keenly feel his absence.
To me, David was absolutely everything. He was the meaning and purpose of every minute of every day. For such a life force to be absent is incomprehensible. He was the kindest, most selfless, funny, protective and cosy husband and life companion to me. He was my world.
I have never met anyone who was so gifted and so capable, in everything he chose to do. Those gifts and talents made him extraordinary. But it was the way he chose to employ them, with humility, thought, and care that made him exceptional. There are some people for whom it is true that we will never see their like again. Some people are simply made to shine in technicolour.
Thank you to everyone who supported us during these last 10 months. Your thoughts and messages meant a great deal and lifted the spirits when we most needed it. We both greatly appreciated it. David read and saw every one.
Characteristically, David challenged this harrowing cancer on his own terms, and I cannot tell you how proud of him I am. The more it threw at us the more David shone. His courage, dignity and astonishing strength only ever redoubled. He defiantly set up a website that he asked me to own for him when the time came, and he asked me to let you all know about it. David’s courage will never be in vain. (The email address isn’t set up yet so please don’t use that one). https://the-right-to-hope.org/
David’s wish was for a small and private family funeral in Scotland, followed after the summer by an opportunity for everyone to remember and give thanks for this remarkable gentleman and unique character. Typically, he had to be persuaded to have a Thanksgiving. I will make sure the details of that are well publicised nearer the time. It will be south of the border and everyone will be so warmly welcomed.
Lastly, David asked me to send this photo of him, alongside this email. It is one of his favourites. He is in his beloved garden, reading, having just taken our little dogs for a dip in the stream where he kept some of his fish, and we are about to have a cup of tea. Our simple and gentle life. He said this is how he wanted to be remembered, ‘in his element’.
My immeasurable love, deepest gratitude, respect and pride will be with David always. My greatest privilege was to stand by his side.
In omnibus princeps, Catherine
[I am struggling to post the photo he asked to be used, but will try again later]
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Dear all,
I am completely devastated to have to let you know that David very sadly died this afternoon, incredibly peacefully in my arms, at home, with his adored little dogs beside us. The cancer had tragically deteriorated.
I cannot comprehend his loss, for me, his boys, sister, aunt and wider family. And for you his friends. Every one of you receiving this email will have your own affection, respect and admiration for David, and you will keenly feel his absence.
To me, David was absolutely everything. He was the meaning and purpose of every minute of every day. For such a life force to be absent is incomprehensible. He was the kindest, most selfless, funny, protective and cosy husband and life companion to me. He was my world.
I have never met anyone who was so gifted and so capable, in everything he chose to do. Those gifts and talents made him extraordinary. But it was the way he chose to employ them, with humility, thought, and care that made him exceptional. There are some people for whom it is true that we will never see their like again. Some people are simply made to shine in technicolour.
Thank you to everyone who supported us during these last 10 months. Your thoughts and messages meant a great deal and lifted the spirits when we most needed it. We both greatly appreciated it. David read and saw every one.
Characteristically, David challenged this harrowing cancer on his own terms, and I cannot tell you how proud of him I am. The more it threw at us the more David shone. His courage, dignity and astonishing strength only ever redoubled. He defiantly set up a website that he asked me to own for him when the time came, and he asked me to let you all know about it. David’s courage will never be in vain. (The email address isn’t set up yet so please don’t use that one). https://the-right-to-hope.org/
David’s wish was for a small and private family funeral in Scotland, followed after the summer by an opportunity for everyone to remember and give thanks for this remarkable gentleman and unique character. Typically, he had to be persuaded to have a Thanksgiving. I will make sure the details of that are well publicised nearer the time. It will be south of the border and everyone will be so warmly welcomed.
Lastly, David asked me to send this photo of him, alongside this email. It is one of his favourites. He is in his beloved garden, reading, having just taken our little dogs for a dip in the stream where he kept some of his fish, and we are about to have a cup of tea. Our simple and gentle life. He said this is how he wanted to be remembered, ‘in his element’.
My immeasurable love, deepest gratitude, respect and pride will be with David always. My greatest privilege was to stand by his side.
In omnibus princeps, Catherine
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Worked for AM Walker in Town 2003-5. He was an absolutely great bloke in every respect - a real old-fashioned (in a good way) no-nonsense character, who looked after his blokes. One could not ask for more in an RAF officer….and I wish there were more like him, particularly now.
David Walker. One of the best leaders an airman would ever meet. Good and bad times. Was my Station Commander at Cottesmore. My opinions on a small matter was advertised to those needing to know. He did close my last Sqn down. He pitched up to tell us directly that "I am the bastard that closed you down!" and the reasons he had to make the decision. A leader. RIP Skywalker. Condolences to his family and many friends.
He was also my Stn Cdr at Cottesmore where I was a newly promoted Sgt and was the SNCO in Stn Ops.
When he visited us, he was always polite, but made clear what he wanted, which was his job. It was thanks to him I got lumbered with having to take a turn at rurning Morning Prayers, after some foul up one morning.
"Get Sgt xxxx in there to show them how it's done' he remarked and the look on his face told me he was not messing around.
First time I did it to be fair, he helped me by fielding a difficult question from a smart arrse Sqn Cdr.
When he visited us, he was always polite, but made clear what he wanted, which was his job. It was thanks to him I got lumbered with having to take a turn at rurning Morning Prayers, after some foul up one morning.
"Get Sgt xxxx in there to show them how it's done' he remarked and the look on his face told me he was not messing around.
First time I did it to be fair, he helped me by fielding a difficult question from a smart arrse Sqn Cdr.
AM Walker is well remembered by many as AOC 1 Gp in the early 2000s offering an "interesting" take on the use of one's own aircraft as a weapon of last resort to large audiences of somewhat sceptical aircrew at successive Combined QWI Courses. Fortunately the occasion for such has yet to arise! RIP sir.
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Such a shame, a top bloke. Worked for him at CTTO Boscombe Down in early 90s when he was on the Harrier desk. When CTTO did trials work, the trial if classified was given a name by HQSTC, but if it was restricted or below then we were allowed to make up the trial name. It came to my turn to make up the trial name for a Harrier NVG trial, so I asked AM Walker (then a Sqn Ldr) if it could be called Trial Roker Park (being an avid Sunderland fan). Only single trial names were allowed so it was called Trial Roker. I was somewhat amused when correspondence from the Air Ranks came in to the registry (pre DII) regarding Trial Roker. I doubt that any of them understood the origin of the trial name!
AM Walker always treated us juniors with respect and humour, something that always stuck with me. In those days he was the exception and not the norm. He did a very good impression of General Melchett from Black Adder when talking about one of the Gp Capts in CTTO. RIP Sir
AM Walker always treated us juniors with respect and humour, something that always stuck with me. In those days he was the exception and not the norm. He did a very good impression of General Melchett from Black Adder when talking about one of the Gp Capts in CTTO. RIP Sir
Last edited by High Average; 26th Jun 2023 at 12:20.
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Dear Koshka,
We were really devastated to hear the such sad news about David. We know how much you were to each other. Its been a while but we are both here. Will hopefully attend and support you at the future commemoration. All our love Dave and Geoff.
We were really devastated to hear the such sad news about David. We know how much you were to each other. Its been a while but we are both here. Will hopefully attend and support you at the future commemoration. All our love Dave and Geoff.
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The Typhoon force owes WAK a great deal. I forget all the acronyms and arcane process, though they were my life at the time, but his willingness to take appropriate risk and keep it in the air when the IPT was running scared of its own shadow was exactly what the situation warranted. There comes a point in any project's lifecycle when it has to cross the white line. You can complain about its shortcomings all you want, but the government isn't going to let you pick an alternative and the Service cannot wait any longer; then, like it or not, you have to "dance with the one you brung." The judgement of when to stop complaining, accept and just get on with it is a very difficult one (Tornado F2/3 anyone? And, yes, I was there too). WAK instinctively understood this balance and allowed us to press when plenty of others would have baulked. After a while he got bored of seeing me in his office and just said yes.
Of course, one can go too far with this approach. Finding ourselves over the Gulf en route Singapore in a 12-hour-old jet with a fuel system that refused to take any more gas from the tanker did give us momentary pause for thought...
RIP
Of course, one can go too far with this approach. Finding ourselves over the Gulf en route Singapore in a 12-hour-old jet with a fuel system that refused to take any more gas from the tanker did give us momentary pause for thought...
RIP
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AM David Walker
I am an obituary writer with The Times and have been asked to prepare an obituary of AM David Walker. I would very much like to speak to a member of his family to check biographical information and find out a little more about him. I have drawn a blank with the MoD press office and the Royal British Legion. Could you possibly help me please. My email is [email protected]
Best wishes, Simon Pearson
