Ted Walker
Ted Walker was an English poet and educator, born on November 28, 1934, in Lancing, England. He was the son of a carpenter and was encouraged to pursue literature from a young age, which laid the groundwork for his future career. Walker earned a B.A. in modern and medieval languages from St. John's College, Cambridge, and began teaching languages after graduating. He published his first pamphlet of poetry in 1965, followed by several collections that showcased his ability to blend traditional forms with vivid imagery, particularly in the realm of nature poetry.
Throughout his career, Walker balanced teaching with writing, eventually becoming a professor of creative writing. He also ventured into prose, authoring an autobiography and a collection of short stories. Following personal losses, including the death of his first wife, he continued to write until his retirement in 1992. Walker's literary contributions earned him several prestigious awards, including the Eric Gregory Award and the J. R. Ackerley Prize. He spent his later years in Spain, where he passed away on March 19, 2004. Walker is celebrated for his mastery of metaphor and his keen observations of the natural world.
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Subject Terms
Ted Walker
Writer
- Born: November 28, 1934
- Birthplace: Lancing, England
- Died: March 19, 2004
- Place of death: Valencia, Spain
Biography
Ted Walker was born on November 28, 1934, in Lancing, England, the son of Edward Joseph Walker, a carpenter, and Winifred Schofield Walker. His father encouraged him to read, making financial sacrifices in order to buy books. In addition, he was given private French lessons. Walker, who would grow up to become a nature poet, was influenced by The Natural History of the World in Pictures, a book in his father’s library. In addition, he spent a great deal of time exploring the beach. In 1956, he earned his B.A. in modern and medieval languages from St. John’s College, Cambridge University. Upon graduation, he married Lorna Ruth Benfell; they had four children: Edward, Susan, Margaret, and William.
Walker’s teaching career began during college, when he taught French and Spanish at a high school for boys in Chichester. In 1956, he became assistant master of the North Paddington School in London. Beginning in 1958, he headed the French department at Southall Technical Grammar School; in 1963, he transferred to the modern languages department at the Bognor Regis School.
His pamphlet of seven poems, Those Other Growths, was published in 1965. His 1970 collection, The Night Bathers, includes translations of Spanish, French, Italian, and German poetry. Some of Walker’s original poetry in this collection breaks from the nature tradition to include autobiographical poetry exploring familial relationships. Walker left teaching from 1967 until 1971, earning his living from freelance writing. In 1971, he became professor of creative writing at the British campus of New England College in Arundel, England.
Walker turned to writing prose, publishing his autobiography, The High Path, in 1982. His collection of short stories, You’ve Never Heard Me Sing, was published in 1985. His wife, Lorna, died of cancer in 1987, and the following year he married Audrey Joan Hicks. He retired from teaching in 1992, becoming a professor emeritus, and he returned to writing poetry. His final collection of poetry, Mangoes on the Moon: Poems, 1992-1998, was published in 1999. In 1997, he moved to Spain because of health reasons. He died on March 19, 2004, in Valencia, Spain.
Walker’s awards include the Eric Gregory Award in 1964; the Cholmondeley Award in 1966; the Alice Hunt Bartless Award in 1967; and an award from the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1969. In addition, he received the Campion Prize in 1974 and the J. R. Ackerley Prize in 1982. In 1975, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature; in 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in literature from the University of Southampton. Largely a poet of traditional forms, using metered rhyme schemes, Walker is recognized as a skillful nature poet and is known for the beauty of his metaphors, the quality of his description, and the aptness of his observations.