Sir Gervas Walker, 1920-2001 (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Saturday, February 06, 2016, 21:27 (3222 days ago) @ Jefff

His obituary from 29 August 2001 describes his full life in detail, starting

"SIR GERVAS WALKER, who has died aged 80, was an important figure in local government; he was also instrumental in the setting up of the new county of Avon in 1973, becoming its first Chairman in 1974.
Gervas George Walker was born on September 12 1920 in the Wye Valley and attended Monmouth School. He left school in 1938, after which he joined the Territorial unit of the Gloucestershire Regiment. When war was declared a year later, Walker was transferred to the Royal Artillery.
In 1944, shortly after his marriage, he was posted to France and, like so many others, was parted from his new wife for the next 11 months. He saw action at Falaise and through Belgium to the Crossing of the Rhine, towards the end of the war.
On returning to civilian life, Walker joined the family firm of construction and civil engineers, based in London and Bristol..."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1338793/Sir-Gervas-Walker.html

The Queen and Sir Gervas Walker at Filton High School, 1977, Silver Jubilee Year.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4036/4699662864_cdff7aa892_b.jpg

I cannot find him in this site's PRs, or his parents for sure, but FreeBMD has;

Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Births Dec 1920 (>99%)
Walker Gervase G Williams Monmouth 11a 49

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Jun 1944 (>99%)
MAXWELL Jessie E Walker St.Asaph 11b 401
WALKER Gervas G Maxwell St.Asaph 11b 401
(St Asalph is in North Wales)

His brother, perhaps ?
Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Births Sep 1911 (>99%)
WALKER Percival H Williams Monmouth 11a 40

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UPDATE:

Thanks to Mike Pinchin for the January 1947 "Citizen" cutting, showing Gervas as the recently-selected prospective Parliamentary Liberal candidate for the FoD, announced at a meeting at Cinderford Town Hall. The article confirms his father as Mr H.J.Walker, hence it seems this is his parents' marriage record;

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Sep 1910 (>99%)

WALKER Harry J Chepstow 11a 37
Williams Susanna M Chepstow 11a 37

This site's PRs gives;

Record_ID: 60246
Entry_Number: 518
Year: 1881
Month: Jun
Day: 28
Parents_Surname: WALKER
Child_Forenames: Harry James
Fathers_Forenames: George
Mothers_Forenames: Emma
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: The Fence
Occupation: Navigator
Officiating_Minister: W[illia]m Taprell Allen Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: son of P[rivately] (Received into the Church July 31 1881)
Notes:
Register_Reference: P278 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 65
Parish_Chapel: St Briavels
Soundex: W426

(Presume father George is a civil engineering "navvy", rather than a ship's navigator, given these PR and Census Records, see below. ?)

Record_ID 23382
Entry_Number 373
Year 1869
Month Feb
Day 6
Grooms_Surname WALKER
Grooms_Forenames George
Grooms_Age 23
Groom_Condition Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation Woodman
Grooms_Residence Lower Meen [?] S[t] Briavels
Grooms_Fathers_Surname Walker
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames George
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation Labourer
Brides_Surname THOMAS
Brides_Forenames Emma
Brides_Age 20
Brides_Condition Spinster
Brides_Occupation
Brides_Residence The Fence [?] S[t] Briavels
Brides_Fathers_Surname Thomas
Brides_Fathers_Forenames George
Brides_Fathers_Occupation Labourer
Licence_or_Banns Banns
Date_of_Banns
Signature_or_Mark Both sign
Witness_1 Mark of William Berrow
Witness_2 Harriett Jones
Other_Witnesses
Officiating_Minister W[illia]m Taprell Allen MA Vicar
Event Marriage
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference P278 IN 1/12
Page_Number 187
Parish_Chapel St Briavels
Soundex_Groom W426
Soundex_Bride T520

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LDS FamilySearch gives;

1881 Census, St Briavels.
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

George Walker Head M 34 "General Laborer", St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England
Emma Walker Wife F 32 St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England
Rose E Walker Daughter F 10 St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England
George T Walker Son M 9 St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England
Arthur H Walker Son M 3 St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England
Esther Walker Daughter F 2 St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England

1891 Census, St Briavels.
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
George Walker Head M 44 "WOODARD LABOURER", Gloucestershire, England
Emma Walker Wife F 42 Gloucestershire, England
Rose Ellen Walker Daughter F 20 Gloucestershire, England
Arthur Henry Walker Son M 13 Gloucestershire, England
Esther Elizabeth Walker Daughter F 12 Gloucestershire, England
Harry James Walker Son M 9 Gloucestershire, England
Emily Agusta Annie Walker Daughter F 7 Gloucestershire, England
Mary Ann Walker Daughter F 5 Gloucestershire, England
Hubert Reuben Walker Son M 3 Gloucestershire, England

1901 Census, St Briavels.
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
George Walker Head M 53 "WOODARD ON AN ESTATE", St Briavels, Gloucestershire
Emma Walker Wife F 50 St Briavels, Gloucestershire
Rose E Walker Daughter F 29 St Briavels, Gloucestershire
Harry J Walker Son M 19 St Briavels, Gloucestershire
Mary A Walker Daughter F 15 St Briavels, Gloucestershire
Reuben H Walker Son M 13 St Briavels, Gloucestershire

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Other F.o.D. Liberal Party officials named in the 1947 newspaper article include Mr C.A.J.Hale, treasurer and W.H.Eagles, secretary.

see this post re William Henry Eagles of Coleford.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/fodmembers/index.php?id=44110

I think C.A.J. Hale must be;

Birth Details
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
HALE Charles Alfred Jenkins HALE HALE JONES 1869 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 30 277

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
HALE Charles Alfred Jenkins BRIGHT Edith Sarah Ida Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office [Closed] 1895 10 140