Peter Walker | |
|---|---|
 Peter Walker inspects cadets Saint Peter Port | |
| Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey | |
| In office 15 April 2011 – 6 September 2015 | |
| Premier | Lyndon Trott Peter Harwood Jonathan Le Tocq |
| Preceded by | Sir Fabian Malbon |
| Succeeded by | Sir Ian Corder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 September 1949 Rowley Regis, Staffordshire |
| Died | 6 September 2015(2015-09-06) (aged 65) |
| Spouse | Lynda Walker |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1968–2007 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands | Joint Warfare Centre RAF Mount Pleasant No. 111 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Legion of Merit (United States) |
Air MarshalPeter Brett Walker,CB, CBE (29 September 1949 – 6 September 2015) was aRoyal Air Force officer who served asLieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 2011 to 2015.
The son of aRoyal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot, Peter Brett Walker was born on 29 September 1949 in the Staffordshire village ofRowley Regis.[1] He was initially educated atPocklington School,[2] before joiningDurham University to read for a General Arts degree atHatfield College.[3] As a student he played rugby for the University 4th XV alongsideRichard Paniguian, who would go on to a long career withBP and latterly theGovernment of the United Kingdom.[4]
Walker joined the Royal Air Force as a flight cadet in 1968 while at university and in 1971 entered theRoyal Air Force College Cranwell.[1][5] Selected for training as a fighter-pilot, his first posting was atNo. 29 Squadron, based atRAF Coningsby.[1] Here, piloting theMcDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, he had regular encounters with Soviet aircraft approaching UK Air Defence.[1] After three years of squadron service, Walker became an instructor on the Phantom operational conversion unit.[1] This was followed by a posting toRAF Germany, where he was weapon's leader ofNo. 92 Squadron, one of two RAF squadrons responsible for the air policing of Western Germany.[1]
In 1985 he went toRAF Leuchars, where he took command ofNo. 111 Squadron, also known as the "Tremblers", and flew numerous sorties over theNorth Sea.[6] In 1993 he went to theFalkland Islands to commandRAF Mount Pleasant.[1] He became Director of Operational Capability in 1999,[7] Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operations) in 2001,[7] and Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy & Requirements) atSHAPE in 2002.[8] He went on to be Commander of theJoint Warfare Centre in Norway in 2005,[9] and retired in 2007.[5]
In retirement he becameLieutenant Governor of Guernsey, appointed on 15 April 2011.[5] Walker died in that role on 6 September 2015.[10]
Walker was described as a 'charismatic fighter pilot' by one former colleague and also said to have a highly aggressive style of flying.[6][1] He was also known for his ability to mete out discipline, one former flier describing a 'monumental hats-onbollocking in his office' that he and five others received.[6]
Walker was married to Lynda: they had two sons and a daughter.[5] Before moving to Guernsey the couple lived inNorth Devon, where they were mentioned in the diaries of socialist politicianTony Benn.[6]
Walker died of aheart attack following a function at the Beau Sejour centre in Guernsey. An air display due to take place was dedicated to his memory, and theRed Arrows made a special fly-past.[6] His funeral was held in London on 22 September atSt Clement Danes.[11]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey 2011–2015 | Succeeded by |