Sunderland merchant, the son of WM parents from a Durham mining background. His father was a colliery engineer; his mother, known as 'Mother Walker' among the young men influenced by her cottage prayer-meetings, died in 1929, aged 91. Converted at 15 under Thomas Champness, he began his career in a corn and seed merchant's office in Newcastle and later set up his own business in Sunderland, becoming the director of several companies. Following in his mother's footsteps, he established a Men's Fellowship and an undenominational Sunday Afternoon Men's Homely Hour, affiliated to the Brotherhood Movement, with a membership growing into several hundred. From 1903, both were based at Ewesley Road WM chapel. From 1918 he ran very popular Sunday evening 'Sunshine Hour' services in the Victoria Hall, Sunderland. He was elected to the town council in 1898, was mayor in 1907 and an alderman from 1920.

Category: Person
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