A humble and selfless Eden man who dedicated himself to the Greystoke community has died at the age of 72.
Edward “Eddie” Arthur Walker raised thousands of pounds for Greystoke causes, founded Wetheriggs Football Club and even helped pass on his sporting skills to the next generation.
Born in Penrith in 1950 to parents Elizabeth and Fred Walker, Eddie was the youngest of eight boys. He went on to attend Queen Elizabeth Grammar School where he was an avid rugby player, and a key part of their successful team of the day.
It was at this time that he met Jan Bellas, his childhood sweetheart and later wife, when they were 14 years old. They met on a bus in Sandgate. Jan and a friend took the bus into town from Greystoke to see a film, but when a group of boys approached them, they got chatting and ended up missing the film completely.
From then on Eddie and his friend Peter Brooks would make the trip from Penrith to Greystoke on the back of an old motorbike — which was probably not roadworthy — to see Jan.
At the time, Jan and a friend would sneak out of a youth club run by Joan Watson to see Eddie.
When Miss Watson cottoned on to what the girls were doing, and she went to see Janice’s father, and said: “Do you realise Mr Bellas that your daughter is fraternising with that boy from Penrith?” He said: “I know, he comes for his tea every Sunday.”
With Eddie’s father having passed away, Jan’s dad even taught him to drive.
While still only about 15, he founded the now well-known and successful Wetheriggs Football Club with a group of friends who all lived in Penrith.
The team prospered in a very short period of time, winning the Westmorland League Division One and most of the league cups along the way.
After school, Eddie worked for Beacon Trailers as a welder and fabricator. Jan said he was very clever with metal and numbers, drawing out all his designs before he built them.
He put his skills as a master craftsman to good use over the years, leaving his mark on Greystoke. From restoring old oil lamp holders to making village seats, he helped residents without asking for thanks.
Eddie and Jan were married in 1970 and then moved to Greystoke. Eddie joined the village hall committee soon after and became a mainstay for decades.
From washing up at big breakfast events and sponsored walks to organising horse racing nights and bonfire nights — his fundraising efforts became indispensable for the village.
He even put his sporting skills to good use and coached Greystoke’s juniors when his sons started playing and taught the village children to play snooker, forming a weekly club.
Over the years, he raised thousands of pounds for the village hall, football club and pool. Jan said he did not like a fuss.
She added: “He’d do anything for anybody and would never take any recognition. He was very humble like that.”
Eddie’s funeral was attended by hundreds of people, a testament to the sustained and lasting impact he has had on local communities throughout his life.
Eddie is survived by Jan; sons Daniel, Mathew and Robert; daughters-in-law Kim and Michelle; grandchildren Kiera, Oliver and Jacob; and brothers Stan, John and Geoff.
