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. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

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. For example, while the political systems ...

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. Born in

Mirfield Mirfield () is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is on the A644 road (Great B ...

, Walker worked for his family's

blanket A blanket is a swath of soft textile, 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 Thermal conduction, condu ...

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

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

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

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, 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, Roundhay, ...

, 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 Dewsbury is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Calder, West Yorkshire, River Calder and on an arm of the Calder and Hebble Navigation waterway. It is to the west of Wakefield, ...

, 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 Ol ...

, 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'' newspapers. He served as President of the Liberal Party nationally in 1952, and was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

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 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 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