Tributes paid to soccer stalwart Fred Walker
TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'remarkable man' who will be 'missed by many'.
Frederick Walker, known to his friends as Fred, passed away earlier this month after a short illness.
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Fred Walker, who has died aged 84.
After leaving school at the age of 13 to work, he enlisted in the Army and at the age of 19, landed at Anzio, Italy.
After the war, Fred married and went to work for the rest of his working days for Hewitt's Brewery.
Fred – who died at the age of 84 – was a keen sportsman and ran his own five-a-side football club for 40 years - joining in with the fun right into his late 70s.
One of the club's former members, David Saville Snr, of Prystie Place, Cleethorpes, said: "I was very saddened to hear that Fred has passed away.
"I got to know him by joining his five-a-side club that I attended at the Havelock School for over 20 years.
"I know that he started the club when he was 39 and ran it every Thursday night for over 40 years.
"In all those years he never missed a night – even when his wife Rita was desperately ill she made him go knowing how reliable he was."
David added: "I consider myself to be an ordinary man – I think that Fred Walker was an extraordinary man who will be missed by many."
Meanwhile, members of the area's writing fraternity have added their voice to the tributes, describing him as a "remarkable person and incredible writer".
During his years, Fred was a keen member of the Grimsby Writers Club, with about 200 of his short stories going to print.
Chairman of the group, Ron Geddes, of Abbey Park Road, said that he will be sorely missed by the members.
"Fred really was a remarkable person and a very talented writer," he said.
"He could write about absolutely anything and never wrote a bad story – he was incredible.
"He was well-liked and respected by every member of the club.
"You could always rely on Fred, he was always there and very supportive of everyone.
"He will be sorely missed."
Pay tribute to Fred Walker at our Lasting Tribute website
3 Comments
by gazza, stallingboro
Saturday, March 20 2010, 12:54PM
“sorry to hear ofFred's passing, played on a thursday with him for nearly 20 years and as true a gentleman as youi will find, highlight though was when he was in the telegraph about still playing and the next week camera's from Look North and Calender came down, he just played it down, didn't want to make a fuss, top bloke !!!”
by Craig Smith, Cleethorpes
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 5:35PM
“A great man and a true football fan, I played football with fred for around 10 years at Havelok school, he loved the game and turned out every week without fail. A great shame he is no longer with us, he will always be remembered by myself and many others.”
by Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 8:51AM
“Sorry to read of Fred's passing - we served together on magazines at the Community Press Office. Fred also wrote articles for the "Lincolnshire Poacher".”