Final the streets of the East End to life in the dale, via wartime service in the Caribbean and the wreckage of post-war Germany, Arthur Walker crammed a lot into his 100 years.
He died peacefully on September 21, a few months after celebrating his 100th birthday in January.
Arthur spent his final years at Charles Dickens Lodge in Barnard Castle, where he and wife Rosemary celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2023.
Rosemary died later that year.
Arthur’s funeral was attended by members of RAF Regiment, led by Sgt A Waring, SNCO Ceremonial RAF Leeming, alongside veteran members of the armed forces charity SSAFA, who piped him to his final resting place.
Born in Hackney in 1925, Arthur’s early years saw him sneaking into the local music halls – where he caught a glimpse of Charlie Chaplin on stage – and appearing himself in the Gang Shows of the 1930s.
That inspired a lifelong love of the theatre. Decades later, while living in Teesdale, Arthur was an active member of local amateur dramatic groups.
Before that, Arthur’s life was transformed by the Second World War. Called up in 1943, aged 18, he enlisted in the RAF as a navigator.
Later, he volunteered as a rear gunner, one of the most dangerous flying roles.
Arthur described the RAF as the happiest part of his early life. During the war, he served in the Caribbean before a posting to flight control in Hamburg in 1945.
“The city was still smouldering when I arrived,” he recalled.
The RAF provided opportunity, lasting friendship, life-experience and, more importantly, a chance to study at St John’s University, York, and launch a career as a teacher.
Arthur’s time in the classroom introduced him to Rosemary – they met while teaching in Leeds and worked together in Masham, North Yorkshire, before moving to Ripon and starting a family in 1954.
In 1964 Arthur became headmaster at Startforth Junior School and the family, which now included his three children, moved to Barnard Castle.
As well as teaching and am-dram, Arthur was also a keen member of the painting group run by local artist Malcolm Partidge in Barney.
Arthur and Rosemary retired from teaching in 1986 and moved from Gainford to Mickleton where they lived for nearly 30 years. In retirement, he was active with the “41 Club” and volunteered at the Stroke Association in Darlington.
Arthur was husband of Rosemary, and loving dad to Peter, Susan and John, a dearly loved grandfather to David, Debbie, Xoana and Eric, also a much-loved great-grandfather to Joshua.
