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			{{Short description\|Rhodesian politician (1933–2024)}}
	'''Wilfrid Denis Walker ''' is a right-wing ] politician, known for his monarchist activities and anti-communism; he has been in control of the ] since late ], and is also the Company Secretary and Director of the ] and its ] subsidiary, the ]. He was initially a ], and then a government minister in ].
			{{About\|\|the Australian activist\|Denis Walker (activist)\|those of a similar name\|Dennis Walker (disambiguation)}}
			{{EngvarB\|date=May 2013}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2024}}
			{{Infobox officeholder
			\| birth_name = Wilfrid Denis Walker
			\| birth_date = {{birth date \|1933\|12\|29\|df=yes}}
			\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2024\|01\|08\|1933\|12\|29\|df=yes}}
			\| image = Denis Walker.jpg
			\| caption = Walker in 1989
			\| children = 1
			\| office1 = ] for ]
			\| party = ]
			\| primeminister = ]
			\| termstart1 = {{start date\|30 July 1974}}
			\| termend1 = {{circa\|1981}}
			\| office = ]
			\| termstart = {{start date\|1977}}
			\| termend = {{end date\|1978}}
			\| predecessor = A. P. Smith
			\| successor = ] and ]
			\| spouse = Jill Walker
			}}

			'''Wilfrid Denis Walker''' (29 December 1933 – 8 January 2024) was a ]n ] minister from 1974 to 1979 who returned to the United Kingdom in 1982. He was known for his ] activities and ] and was also company secretary, director and treasurer of the ] and its UK subsidiary, the ].

	==Early life==		==Early life==
			Having grown up in ] and ], London, Walker was called up for ] in the ] in 1952. Although he was to be posted to fight in the ], this was cancelled before he departed. He was discharged in 1954.<ref name=iwm>{{cite web \|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80024811 \|title=Walker, Denis \|publisher=Imperial War Museum \|accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref> Walker went on to become a ] missionary in southern Africa, including time in the ]s of ].<ref name=iwm /> He left the mission service and later settled in ], ], acquiring ] after the ] in 1965.<ref>{{Cite web\|last1=Walker\|first1=Denis\|last2=Tyrie\|first2=Nigel\|date=September 2004\|title=Walker, Denis (Oral history)\|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80024811\|access-date=18 December 2020\|website=]\|language=en}}</ref>
	Walker was born in East ] and became a ] ] in southern ]. He left the mission service to settle as a minor industrialist in ], ].

	==Political ~~Career~~ in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe==		==Political career in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe==
			] 'El Salvador' Dinner, London, 25 September 1989. L to R: Denis Walker, ], ] (El Salvador's Foreign Minister), Andrew Smith (yellow tie), ]]]
	In the ], he won the seat of Bulawayo North as a ] candidate, polling 93·4% of the vote among the European-descended electorate. He was re-elected in the ] and ] elections. Walker served as Minister for Education from ] in ]'s government, but was dismissed in April ] after mounting criticism. However, he returned to office under ] in ]-].

			In the ], he gained the seat of Bulawayo North as a ] candidate, polling 93.4% of the vote among the electorate. He was re-elected in the 1977 and 1979 elections. Walker served as ] from 1977 in ]'s government and also held office under ].<ref name=v>{{cite web \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/13/archives/new-rhodesian-cabinet-is-completed-by-smith.html \|title=NEW RHODESIAN CABINET IS COMPLETED BY SMITH \|work=The New York Times \|date=13 April 1978 \|accessdate=26 March 2024}}</ref> In January 1979, he was appointed ],<ref>{{cite news \|title=Walker's Appointment to Internal Affairs Welcomed \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FFtEAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22denis+walker%22+%22internal+affairs%22&pg=RA1-PA50 \|access-date=15 January 2024 \|work=The Herald \|date=10 January 1979}}</ref> serving alongside ] until the ] was established in June 1979, after which he held office as a Deputy Minister.<ref>{{cite book \|first=Ian \|last=Smith \|authorlink=Ian Smith \|title=Bitter Harvest: Zimbabwe and the Aftermath of its Independence \|page=332 \|year=2008 \|publisher=King's Road Publishing \|isbn=9781843582380}}</ref>
⚫	Following the end of ] and the creation of ] he ~~was~~ ~~appointed~~ ~~Deputy~~ ~~Chairman of Parliamentary Committees~~, but came under pressure from the new government of ]. He was to have been arrested (on suspicion of attempting to overthrow the government) on ], ] together with the MP for Bulawayo South, but had ~~fortuitously~~ left on a ~~prearranged~~ ~~holiday~~. When he returned in January ], he briefly ~~reattended~~ Parliament before learning that the Mugabe government had stationed police around the building to arrest him on sight. Walker fled the country, ~~hidden~~ in a ~~furniture~~ ~~lorry~~ ~~and~~ ~~returned~~ to ~~Britain~~.

		⚫	Following the end of ] and the creation of ], he remained as an MP, but came under pressure from the new government of ]. He was to have been arrested (on suspicion of attempting to overthrow the government) on 10 December 1981, together with the MP for Bulawayo South, but had already left the country.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/10/14/Politician-acquitted-on-plot-charge/8672403416000/ \|title=Politician acquitted on plot charge \|publisher=UPI \|date=14 October 1982 \|accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref> When he returned in January 1982, he briefly re-attended Parliament before learning that the Mugabe government had stationed police around the building to arrest him on sight, Walker fled the country and returned to Britain.<ref>{{cite book \|first=Harold \|last=Nelson \|title=Zimbabwe, a country study \|page=243 \|year=1983 \|publisher=Department of the Army \|isbn=978-0160015984}}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|title=AF Press Clips \|page=2 \|publisher=Department of State \|year=1982 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQNJAQAAIAAJ&dq=denis+walker+mugabe&pg=RA5-PA2}}</ref>

	==Return to Britain==		==Return to Britain==
			] MP on the Croatia–Serbia front line as part of the Monday Club delegation, 12 October 1991]]

			On 10 February 1982, Walker delivered a letter to ] at 10 Downing Street highlighting the political situation in Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/146093 \|title=MT letter to Zimbabwe MP Denis Walker (dual citizenship and exchange controls \|publisher=Margaret Thatcher Foundation \|accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref> On 29 September 1986, Walker was the guest-of-honour at a ] Foreign Affairs Committee Dinner at ], Gloucester Road, ], chaired by ], who had previously served in Rhodesia. He subsequently joined the Club and joined the Executive Council as membership secretary in 1990. He also chaired the ].<ref name="monarchist_league">''The Monarchist League Newsletter'', Spring, 1990, p.4</ref>
	On ] he delivered a letter to ] at 10 Downing Street highlighting the political situation in Zimbabwe.

	Walker settled in ], in a house owned by his brother. He entered into a number of small business concerns, such as (in April ]) Fax Network International Limited, based in ] (in March 1999 this company was renamed Computer Systems UK Ltd).

	==Monday Club==

	On 29 September 1986 Denis Walker was the guest-of-honour at a ] Foreign Affairs Committee Dinner at Bailey's Hotel, Gloucester Road, ], chaired by ], who had previously served in Rhodesia. Walker subsequently joined the Club about 1988 and was introduced by David Storey, then National Club Chairman, to ] who was the new Chairman of the Club's Foreign Affairs Committee. Lauder-Frost was a firm supporter of the Rhodesian Front and ] era ] and he and Walker quickly became friends. Walker was subsequently introduced to the Monarchist League, of which Lauder-Frost was then the principal officer. By 1990 Walker was a member of the executives of both organisations. The following year the Monday Club's office was moved, at Walker's behest, to his office opposite ] railway station. In mid-1992 Lauder-Frost, the leading activist of the Monday Club, suddenly resigned for personal reasons, and Denis Walker effectively gained full control of the Monday Club, and, later, the International Monarchist League. Both organisations are currently administered by him.

	An ardent anti-communist, Walker was on the guest list on ], ] at the ] dinner at ] given for the President of ] ] and his inner cabinet. Others present included Sir ] (policy advisor to ]), Professor ], ], Dr. ] (of the ]), Colonel Barry Turner, R.E.(Retd)., ], ] and Dr. ], (Refer: '']'', and '']'', Court & Social pages, 26 September, 1989).

	On 1 November 1989 Denis Walker produced a paper for the Monday Club's Foreign Affairs Committee on ''Land Reform in ]''. In his last paragraph he stated that "once the land has been redistributed, the commercial farms will be broken up, the remaining white farmers reduced by exile or imprisonment; Zimbabwe's government, already morally bankrupt, will decline towards economic collapse."

	==Other activities==		==Other activities==
			Walker was a trustee of the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Relief Fund, a charity that describes itself as assisting "Zimbabwe Rhodesians throughout the world".<ref>{{cite web \|title=Charity overview, the Zimbabwe Rhodesia Relief Fund \|url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/326922/full-print \|website=Register of Charities – The Charity Commission \|access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> Walker was introduced as an Ordinary Member onto the Grand Council of the ] on 14 March 1990 by Gregory Lauder-Frost (seconded by ]).<ref name="monarchist_league" /> He administered the International Monarchist League, the Monday Club, and other business activities from an office at ], Hertfordshire, and resided in the town until his death in January 2024.<ref name=death>{{Cite web \|url=https://thehaveringdaily.co.uk/2024/01/09/he-was-a-great-man-andrew-rosindell-mp-pays-tribute-to-former-romford-deputy-president/ \|title='He was a great man'- Andrew Rosindell MP pays tribute to former Romford Deputy President. \|publisher=Havering Daily \|date=9 January 2024 \|accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref>

			Walker was married to Jill Walker (who was born in Rhodesia) and had one son, Trevor Wilfrid.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Ashcroft\|first=Lord\|date=1 November 2018\|title=If the Germans can come to the Cenotaph, why not the Rhodesians?\|language=en-GB\|work=The Telegraph\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/01/remembrance-sunday-reconciliation-should-not-stop-germany/\|access-date=18 December 2020\|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Denis Walker died on 8 January 2024, at the age of 90.<ref name=death>{{Cite web \|url=https://thehaveringdaily.co.uk/2024/01/09/he-was-a-great-man-andrew-rosindell-mp-pays-tribute-to-former-romford-deputy-president/ \|title='He was a great man'- Andrew Rosindell MP pays tribute to former Romford Deputy President. \|publisher=Havering Daily \|date=9 January 2024 \|accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref>
	He is also the Director of the ] orientated ''Good Hope Christian Group'', and the ''Rhodesia Christian Group'', organisations which were set up to assist European refugees from those countries. He is also General Secretary of The ''Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Relief Fund'', a registered charity, of which the principal patron and Chairman is Sir ] (] ] for ]).

		⚫	==References==
	Denis Walker was appointed in mid-1989 as the Chairman of the Schools Liaison Steering Committee for the ], City of London Branch. His portrait photograph appears on the front page of their Autumn 1989 Newsletter with another in the August/September 2005 ''Rhodesia Christian Group Newsletter''.
			{{Reflist}}

			{{S-start}}
	He runs the Monarchist League, the Monday Club, and other business activities from an office at ], Hertfordshire, and now lives at ], Essex.
			{{S-off}}

			{{Succession box\| before=] \| title=Minister of Education \| years=1977–1978 \| after=] and<br />]}}
⚫	==References==
			{{Succession box\| before=] \| title=Co-Minister of Internal Affairs, Local Government and Housing, and Works<br /><small>With Chief ]</small> \| years=January–June 1979 \| after=] <small>(Home Affairs)</small><br />] <small>(Local Government and Housing)</small><br />Chief ] <small>(Works)</small>}}
			{{Succession box\| before=New post \| title=Deputy Minister of Mines and Works \| years=June–December 1979 \| after=Post abolished }}
			{{S-end}}

			{{Members of the 1st Parliament of Zimbabwe}}
	* ''Fax Network International'' booklet, London, 1989, company number 2248589.
	* ] archives.
	* Rhodesia Herald
	* Companies House UK http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/
	* ''Rhodesia Christian Group'' Newsletter.

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Latest revision as of 15:22, 30 December 2024

Rhodesian politician (1933–2024) For the Australian activist, see Denis Walker (activist). For those of a similar name, see Dennis Walker (disambiguation).

Denis Walker
Walker in 1989

Minister of Education
In office 1977 (1977)–1978 (1978)
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	A. P. Smith
Succeeded by	Rowan Cronjé and Godfrey Magaramombe
Member of Parliament for Bulawayo North
In office 30 July 1974 (30 July 1974) – c. 1981

Personal details
Born	Wilfrid Denis Walker (1933-12-29)29 December 1933
Died	8 January 2024(2024-01-08) (aged 90)
Political party	Rhodesian Front
Spouse	Jill Walker
Children	1

Wilfrid Denis Walker (29 December 1933 – 8 January 2024) was a Rhodesian cabinet minister from 1974 to 1979 who returned to the United Kingdom in 1982. He was known for his monarchist activities and anti-communism and was also company secretary, director and treasurer of the International Monarchist League and its UK subsidiary, the Constitutional Monarchy Association.

Early life

Having grown up in Tooting and Chingford, London, Walker was called up for national service in the Royal Fusiliers in 1952. Although he was to be posted to fight in the Korean War, this was cancelled before he departed. He was discharged in 1954. Walker went on to become a Methodist missionary in southern Africa, including time in the townships of Johannesburg. He left the mission service and later settled in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, acquiring Rhodesian citizenship after the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965.

Political career in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe

In the Rhodesia general election of 1974, he gained the seat of Bulawayo North as a Rhodesian Front candidate, polling 93.4% of the vote among the electorate. He was re-elected in the 1977 and 1979 elections. Walker served as Minister of Education from 1977 in Ian Smith's government and also held office under Abel Muzorewa. In January 1979, he was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, serving alongside Kayisa Ndiweni until the Government of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia was established in June 1979, after which he held office as a Deputy Minister.

Following the end of white minority rule and the creation of Zimbabwe, he remained as an MP, but came under pressure from the new government of Robert Mugabe. He was to have been arrested (on suspicion of attempting to overthrow the government) on 10 December 1981, together with the MP for Bulawayo South, but had already left the country. When he returned in January 1982, he briefly re-attended Parliament before learning that the Mugabe government had stationed police around the building to arrest him on sight, Walker fled the country and returned to Britain.

Return to Britain

On 10 February 1982, Walker delivered a letter to Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street highlighting the political situation in Zimbabwe. On 29 September 1986, Walker was the guest-of-honour at a Conservative Monday Club Foreign Affairs Committee Dinner at Bailey's Hotel, Gloucester Road, South Kensington, chaired by Richard Stallabrass, who had previously served in Rhodesia. He subsequently joined the Club and joined the Executive Council as membership secretary in 1990. He also chaired the International Monarchist League.

Other activities

Walker was a trustee of the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Relief Fund, a charity that describes itself as assisting "Zimbabwe Rhodesians throughout the world". Walker was introduced as an Ordinary Member onto the Grand Council of the International Monarchist League on 14 March 1990 by Gregory Lauder-Frost (seconded by Lord Sudeley). He administered the International Monarchist League, the Monday Club, and other business activities from an office at Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, and resided in the town until his death in January 2024.

Walker was married to Jill Walker (who was born in Rhodesia) and had one son, Trevor Wilfrid. Denis Walker died on 8 January 2024, at the age of 90.

References

^ "Walker, Denis". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
Walker, Denis; Tyrie, Nigel (September 2004). "Walker, Denis (Oral history)". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
"NEW RHODESIAN CABINET IS COMPLETED BY SMITH". The New York Times. 13 April 1978. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
"Walker's Appointment to Internal Affairs Welcomed". The Herald. 10 January 1979. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
Smith, Ian (2008). Bitter Harvest: Zimbabwe and the Aftermath of its Independence. King's Road Publishing. p. 332. ISBN 9781843582380.
"Politician acquitted on plot charge". UPI. 14 October 1982. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
Nelson, Harold (1983). Zimbabwe, a country study. Department of the Army. p. 243. ISBN 978-0160015984.
AF Press Clips. Department of State. 1982. p. 2.
"MT letter to Zimbabwe MP Denis Walker (dual citizenship and exchange controls". Margaret Thatcher Foundation. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ The Monarchist League Newsletter, Spring, 1990, p.4
"Charity overview, the Zimbabwe Rhodesia Relief Fund". Register of Charities – The Charity Commission. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
^ "'He was a great man'- Andrew Rosindell MP pays tribute to former Romford Deputy President". Havering Daily. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
Ashcroft, Lord (1 November 2018). "If the Germans can come to the Cenotaph, why not the Rhodesians?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 December 2020.

Political offices
Preceded byA. P. Smith	Minister of Education 1977–1978	Succeeded byRowan Cronjé and Godfrey Magaramombe
Preceded byRollo Hayman	Co-Minister of Internal Affairs, Local Government and Housing, and Works With Chief Kayisa Ndiweni January–June 1979	Succeeded byHerbert Zimuto (Home Affairs) Walter Mthimkhulu (Local Government and Housing) Chief Kayisa Ndiweni (Works)
Preceded byNew post	Deputy Minister of Mines and Works June–December 1979	Succeeded byPost abolished

Members of the 1st Parliament of Zimbabwe (1980–1985)

Prime Minister: Robert Mugabe (ZANU–PF); Leader of the Opposition: Ian Smith (RF)

v t e Senate
President: Nolan Makombe (ZANU–PF); Deputy President: Kayisa Ndiweni (ZANU–PF)
ZANU–PF	Chidzero Chinengundu Chivende Culverwell Hungwe Makanda Makunde Moyo Mubako Munyati A. Ndlovu M. Ndlovu Nkala Shoniwa Takawira Tangwena Ziyambi
Rhodesian Front	Ankers Blunt Clark Fleming Hamilton Ritchie (Wilson; Scott) Hartley Mussett Partridge Savage (Grubb) Whaley (Oatt) (Rosenfels)
ZAPU	Msika Todd
Independent	Norman
Chiefs	Chingoma Chitanga Dakamela Mukarati Gwebu Mashayamombe Msikavanhu Ndiweni Nyati Ncube Whata (Charumbira)

v t e House of Assembly
Speaker: Didymus Mutasa (ZANU–PF); Deputy Speaker: Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (ZANU–PF)
ZANU–PF	Bassopo-Moyo Chidyausiku Chikowore Chitepo Chivaura Dhube Dube Hove Hunda Kabasa Kadungure Kangai Kaparadza Mahachi Makombe C. Makoni S. Makoni Mamutse Mangwende Manyika Marere Masango (Malianga) Mativenga Mavhaire Mawema Mazorodze Mombeshora Mnangagwa Mudzingwa Mugabe Mujuru Mumbengegwi Munyaradzi Murambiwa Mutasa Mutumbuka Muzenda Mvenge Ndangana Nhiwatiwa Nyagumbo Nyazika Pswarayi Rambanepasi Rutanhire Sanyangare Sekeramayi Shamuyarira Shava Shirihuru Taderera Tavarwisa Tekere Ushewokunze Ziyenge E. Zvobgo J. Zvobgo (Jekanyika)
ZAPU	Chambati (J. Chinamano; Mano) R. Chinamano Kona Lesabe Malunga Mangena (Mutanga) Mguni Moyo Msipa Muchachi A. Ndlovu C. Ndlovu E. Ndlovu D. Ngwenya J. Ngwenya Njini John Nkomo Joshua Nkomo S. Nkomo Ntuta (Mpofu)
Rhodesian Front	Andersen Butler van der Byl Cartwright Cronjé (Berkhout) Divaris Elsworth Gaunt (Thrush) Goddard (Field) Holland (York) Irvine Landau Micklem Moseley (Chalmers) Shields D. Smith (Probert) I. Smith Stuttaford (Nixon) Tapson (Kay) Walker (Cumming)
UANC	Mukarati Mundawarara Muzorewa

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