Sir Ronald Fitz-John Walker (1880–26 March 1971) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

. Born in

Mirfield Mirfield () is a town and civil parish in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is on the A644 road between Brighouse and Dewsbury. At the 2011 census it had a population of 19,563. Mirfield ...

, Walker worked for his family's

blanket A blanket is a swath of soft cloth large enough either to cover or to enfold most of the user's body and thick enough to keep the body warm by trapping radiant body heat that otherwise would be lost through convection. Etymology The term ...

-making business."Obituary: Sir Ronald Walker", ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'', 27 March 1971 His brother Cyril was killed in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, leaving him to raise Cyril's family including nephew, politician John WalkerMartin Wainwright,
John Walker obituary
, ''

'', 5 November 2009 Sir Ronald Walker first stood for Parliament as a Liberal at the 1922 general election. He was elected to the party's National Executive the following year, then stood unsuccessfully for Parliament on five further occasions, the last being the 1935 general election. He contested

Leeds North East Leeds North East is a constituency which has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Fabian Hamilton of the Labour Party. Boundaries 1918–1950: The County Borough of Leeds wards of Crossgates, Roundh ...

, 1922 and 1923,

Colne Valley The Colne Valley is a steep sided valley on the east flank of the Pennine Hills in the English county of West Yorkshire. It takes its name from the River Colne which rises above the town of Marsden and flows eastward towards Huddersfield. ...

, 1924, Dewsbury, 1929,

Royton Royton is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 21,284 in 2011. Close to the source of the River Irk, near undulating land at the foothills of the South Pennines, it is northwest of Old ...

, 1931 and 1935. He was again adopted as Liberal candidate for Dewsbury in 1939 for an election that did not take place due to the outbreak of war. Walker served as President of the Yorkshire Liberal Federation from 1947 to 1960, then later as honorary life president. In 1951, he was appointed the chairman of the ''

Dewsbury Reporter The ''Dewsbury Reporter'' is a local weekly publication, providing news for residents of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and surrounding areas. It is owned by Johnston Press Digital Publishing, and has sister newspapers covering Mirfield, Wakefield, B ...

'' newspapers. He served as President of the Liberal Party nationally in 1952, and was knighted the following year. He remained active in national liberal politics through the 1960s, but was critical of more radical elements in the party, calling for adherence to

Gladstonian William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...

values. John followed him into Liberal politics, also becoming a prominent figure in the party. He was the elder brother to Eric Walker (RAF officer), artist Hilda Annetta Walker and Whitby seafarer

Dora Walker Dora Walker (1890–1980) was a British woman who became the first female fishing boat skipper on the north East coast. She became an author writing her memoirs and also history and tales of the fishing community in Whitby and the North East Coas ...

and uncle to artist Marie Walker Last.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Ronald 1880 births 1971 deaths Chairs of the Liberal Party (UK) Presidents of the Liberal Party (UK) People from Mirfield Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Knights Bachelor