How do you sum up Walter?
“Legend” said one on hearing of his passing – a fitting epithet. Walter had conviction, drive and passion throughout his life. In his retirement he took up the challenge of helping those in rural Surrey Hills villages to find better, faster and more reliable broadband service. His frustrations with the existing telecoms companies and their lack of support for rural properties led to his involvement with Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) in Lancashire.
He started his volunteering with B4RN, leaving Surrey for weeks at a time to stay in Lancashire and become fully conversant with what they were doing and how they were doing it. He volunteered in all weathers, at all altitudes, drank many cups of tea and shared cake with many a Lancashire resident. He had absolute belief in all that B4RN were doing and that unwavering commitment led him to become their first shareholder. That experience with B4RN led to him championing a similar solution for the Surrey Hills and he was one of the founding members of Broadband for Surrey Hills (B4SH), aiming to start the rollout of a future proof fibre broadband network, here in the south. His irrepressible belief and faith remained undimmed throughout his involvement with B4SH and he is known to a great many residents. He was known to tirelessly outline the benefits of full fibre symmetric broadband in the William IV pub in Albury Heath!
So today, he may no longer be with us, but his memory and the difference he has made to a good many people’s lives in the Surrey Hills lives on. Rest in peace Walter. We’ll carry on the good work you helped to start here in Surrey.
With sincere condolences to his wife, daughters and all their family from the whole B4SH and B4RN family.
