Paul Walker, born 8th September 1958 to Laura and Ted Walker in St Mary Whittington Hospital Islington, as a new family, they started living in Havelock Street Islington sharing with Ted’s family. When Paul was 3 and younger sister Denise around 18months, the family moved to 163 Mortlake Road Ilford Essex. A few years later younger brother Alan was born completing this extension of the Walker Family.
Paul attended his first primary school in Cleveland Road where he made life long friends.

If you spoke to Paul he would recall fondly growing up between Islington and Ilford with his cousins as the family always remained close. In particular Paul would chuckle to himself when thinking of stories that involved Dave although he was reluctant to divulge the details of these antics.

Paul loved sports and at Loxford High School he was involved in athletics he even gave rugby a try but found that the only reason him and his friend was allowed to play was so that the 5/6th form boys could use them as target practise for their tackling skills. From an early age began Paul's love of football.
The majority of his family are Arsenal supporters, he chose, to be a Spurs supporter probably just to be different, not as committed a supporter, he mainly supported them from the living room.

Paul wanted some pocket money and so started a Saturday job at he local butchers, he would recall gruesome stories of the tasks he had to complete, but he did get discounted joints of meat to take home, which he thought was worth it.
Paul was also passionate about his music mainly soul but enjoyed many types, if you could get him to play more than just the intro. His record collection was large including buying imported rare special addition 45’s and he was a part time DJ with his cousin Dave and friends Ev and Derek.

He had left school at 16 and started work in the city as a shipping clerk, he found the work a bit dull and monotonous but kept at it.
Socially he was at a bit of a loose end, as he was travelling into London and back so didn’t have too much time for going out in the weekday evenings at this time.
So he made contact with some old school friends and joined their group they collectively called themselves ‘the gang” as there was too many people to name individually when referring to them. Their pub of choice was mainly the Papermakers arms in Ilford where they spent many evenings…, Sundays, pretty much any free time.Through the group they arranged outings, parties went on Beano’s arranged trips away. Paul fitted in and became an integral part of “the gang” not withstanding that he was one of the first to gain his driving license being one of the oldest of the original group. With his Dad Ted’s help he bought his beloved first car, the Ford Cortina mark 2, which he named Amy. Everyone wanted to ride in the front with Paul even though you did so at your own risk, as if Paul was to brake hard which was fairly often, and probably on purpose, the front passenger seat was not bolted down properly so would tip you forward so you would hit the front windscreen and then the seat would flop down into position and the journey would continue without any comment as this was the norm and the price you paid for sitting in the front. As Paul and Carey were both part of “the gang” eventually they started going out. After only 3 weeks Paul proposed but on telling Carey’s parents they said it was far too quick and they would have to wait at least a year. They waited a year and got engaged on the Friday the 13th April 1978. It took 4 years to save for a deposit for a house so they were married on May 8th 1982 in Ilford and moved into their house in South Woodham Ferrers where they lived ever since. They had been together almost 35 years.
First Rob arrived, born in 1984, Amy was eager to enter the world in 1986 as she was 5 weeks early. On the evening of her birth the midwife popped to see how Carey was doing as the midwife was just about to leave to have her supper break, but on seeing that Amy would not be too long, Paul offered and went to get the midwife KFC , so at least the midwife could have some food. Just over a year later Andy was born and their family was complete.

Earlier in Paul’s career, Paul was given the opportunity by a colleague at the company Zsarnikow where he worked to trade as a Commodity Broker on the London Markets of cocoa, sugar and coffee. He enjoyed this much more and become accomplished there. He also appreciated the socialising and long business lunches. This finally took its toll and he changed career to work with his Dad Ted, his Uncle, Rick, brother Alan in their building company around 1987. Paul qualified as an electrician after attending day release at college through the family company. He adored working with his Dad and loved the job.

When Ted became ill and after some time sadly passed away in 1998 all the family were devastated. Paul equally as he missed him so much as he had worked with him every day. Paul carried on in the building trade working for companies and being self employed and on occasions Rob & Andrew would work along side Paul, with many stories to tell.

When the children were smaller Paul was involved in taxiing to clubs for hockey, brownies swimming clubs which is all the usual things Dads do. Andrew being 6 with his friend Mark wanted to start playing football and the local team was Woodham Radars F.C. Paul started going over to help, putting up goals, ferrying some of the team to matches and assisting the current manager at the time. As time progressed Paul took over running the team and got more involved with the club, until eventually…he was voted to be Chairman. Im sure his friends will speak about his time there.

Paul continued to love sport playing football, badminton and swimming around 3 times a week.

Paul enjoyed family holidays through the years in Norfolk and especially when they started to go abroad.In March 2006 Paul caught a flu like virus and was very poorly so much so he collapsed. Once recovered Paul was left with severe pain in his calves when he was walking. On investigation showed he had blocked arteries (vascular disease) to both his legs. Knowing the limitations in hospital regarding smoking as he was a heavy smoker he knew he would have to give up, so attended hypnotherapy and with determination he quit and never smoked again. He went in for a major by pass operation to his legs in Nov 2006 made an exceptional recovery as he was discharged after only 5 days as he wanted to get home and expected to be back at work after recovery of 12 weeks. Unfortunately after 6 weeks he developed serious complications that meant he was back in hospital by Christmas and never really returned to full time employment. All through the many hospital appointments, further new diagnosis, different conditions and treatments he was then diagnosed with an uncommon form of leukaemia in 2010.

Paul continued to try and keep fit between treatments by swimming at the local leisure centre and he made many friends there too.
Paul was absolutely determined to attend Rob & Amy’s wedding in 2015 which took great effort as his condition was deteriorating and shortly after the wedding he started his chemotherapy receiving this by travelling up to Barts in London every month. This did improve and stabilise his condition. Throughout the years he did not complain about the pain he experienced, or the many procedures he went through, the medical staff agreed he must have a very high pain thresh hold. If asked by Carey if he was in pain the reply was usually “a little bit”. Paul put up with a great deal and tried to remain positive as he had a zest for life and would not give in to his failing health. He tried to keep fit by swimming at the leisure centre, he used to go a bit later in the morning as he was competitive that he tried to keep up with his friends which he found more and more difficult. He really enjoyed the charity swimathon, raising funds. Paul was involved in the Parish Council and not shy in voicing his opinions if he felt that something needed to be said, unfortunately he had to give this up once his health began to fail. He loved the Woodham Radars F C, and all aspects of it, from fundraising to kits, the new projects, the hut, the kitchen with it’s 5 star rating to marking the pitches. Woodham Radars F.C. & Paul Walker kept each other going. Recently he relied more and more on the team around him to take on more of the responsibility for which he was grateful. Recently he also said he may give up Woodham Radars. Carey said she didn’t think he could and even now the family expects is with reluctance that he has, he would be annoyed as he wanted to do so much more. Paul never looked for recognition for the voluntary work he did for the club as he always said he did it for the kids. For all of them to be able to play and enjoy football.

Paul was never a predictable character, you never really knew how he was going to react to any situation, which always kept everyone on their toes. He nearly always did, what he wanted to do. He could be grumpy, stubborn argumentative but he could also make you laugh albeit sometimes his toilet humour or his subtle, dry wit. Paul valued honesty, straight talking and loyalty. He was tremendously hardworking, practical and, annoyingly, normally right. On the other hand he was thoughtful, generous, caring and would help anyone out in need if he could. On one occasion a close friend had to get to Scotland as their father had been taken seriously ill and had no way of getting there. So Paul drove all night to get the family from South Woodham to Scotland, had a few hours sleep and drove back again as that next day was Christmas Eve and wanted to get back to his family. He didn’t always show his feelings but loved Rob Amy & Andrew and all his family dearly. Paul loved his new special little friend Cooper, Andy’s Border Collie, who kept him company when he was at home.

Paul had no idea how many people in the community he affected in all his different capacities. His Family have said the out pouring of kind wishes and affection is truly overwhelming they feel very proud although he, would not be enjoying the limelight now.