Another interesting reference to Mr. Walker’s method of bowling comes from Canon McCormick, of St. James’s, Piccadilly: “I think that ‘V. E.’ was the best slow bowler I ever played, after old Clarke, who bowled as a rule faster than ‘V. E.’ ‘V. E.’ and W. B. Money were perhaps nearer each other in style than any other two bowlers of the time. I never think that Money had full justice done to him. ‘V. E.’ was better than he in both judgment and the way in which he fielded his own bowling; they neither of them tossed the ball in the air as much as other bowlers. ‘V. E.’s’ difficulty chiefly lay in his deceptive variation of pace. He was a splendid judge of a batsman’s abilities, and very quickly found out his weak spots. He did not concern himself with averages, his one leading idea was to get a man out.”
V. E. Walker earned every distinction and honour which the world of cricket could offer. Admittedly the greatest cricketer of the age, he was asked to captain any team representative of England, the South of England, or the Gentlemen, and indeed his marked ability as captain of a side was one of his most valuable qualities.
Mr. C. E. Green says: “Teddy was a splendid captain at every point of the game, and was always cheery under the most disheartening circumstances. Even when you had tried for a catch and missed it, feeling that you were a worm, you did not feel miserable for long, for he would come up to you and say, ‘Well tried, old chap. No one else would have got near the ball.’ The result was that you began to think you had done something rather clever, and it would be a bad look-out for any batsman who selected you for a catch after that.”
He was one of the founders of the Middlesex County Club in the early sixties, and captained the team until he gave up first-class cricket in 1877. The history of Middlesex cricket is intimately associated with the Walker family; they started the Club, and supported it not only by their brilliant cricket gifts, but financially. In the early days of Middlesex cricket their matches were played on the old Cattle Market ground at Islington. When this site was handed over to the builders Middlesex migrated to Lillie Bridge, but quickly moved on to the luxurious ground of Prince’s Club, where Hans Place now stands. When this ground was built over Middlesex accepted the invitation of the Marylebone Club to make Lord’s their headquarters, and during the last few years it must have been interesting to Mr. Walker, as President of the Middlesex Club, to see a handsome income rolling in each year to the credit of the Club, which he and his brothers had for so many years supported and financed. In 1866 Middlesex were what would nowadays be styled Champion County, winning six out of their eight matches and only losing one, when they were beaten by Cambridgeshire.
It looks now as if the time is remote when Cambridgeshire will again beat Middlesex. When a couple of years ago Middlesex were again Champion County, Mr. Walker and his brother, the celebrated Mr. Russell D. Walker, entertained the County team to signalise the event. In the fifties and sixties the cricket played at Southgate was second to none in the world. The Walker brothers were in every sense of the word hosts in themselves, and by the addition of a few of their personal friends they were able to get a Southgate team fit to beat all comers.
Here is a very interesting extract from the “Cricketers’ Guide” with reference to the match of the United All England Eleven against John Walker, Esq.’s, Sixteen at Southgate in 1859. “Grand preparations were made in Mr. John’s usual liberal manner. The betting was spirited, especially when it was known that the valuable services of Mr. C. D. Marsham (which proved so effective in 1858) could not be obtained. The ground was in first-rate condition, the usual labour and attention having been paid to it. The splendid band of the 2nd Life Guards was in attendance, and a very large assemblage made their appearance each day. Vehicles from all parts lined the ground, and the Great Northern Railway ran trains to the Colney Hatch station about a mile and a half from Southgate. The eleven were most hospitably entertained by this well-known supporter, who, it will be noticed, manages to get hold of sufficient strength to always win. For the United, Carpenter scored 9 and 27, J. Caffyn 124 and 30, J. Grundy 56 and 1, Lockyer 20 and 37. For Southgate, Mr. J. Chalkley 18, Mr. E. Dowson 21, Mr. V. E. Walker 88, Mr. F. P. Miller 26, Mr. H. Perkins 60 and 4. Notwithstanding the tremendous scores of the United men, they could not pull it off—Southgate winning in the most plucky manner.”
What with Southgate and Middlesex, with several matches under the auspices of the Surrey Club at the Oval, and occasional matches for the Free Foresters and other clubs, Mr. Walker was able to fill up his cricket season to the best possible advantage; but we shall always regret that his cricket career had just terminated before the visit to this country of the first Australian team in 1878, so that he never had an opportunity of playing in an International match, although to his wise judgment and that of his brother, I. D., was entrusted the selection of the first team to represent England at the Oval in 1878.
V. E. Walker was always in office at Lord’s; in 1891 he filled the post of President, and afterwards was one of the three trustees of the Marylebone Club. He was Chairman of the Wood Green Bench of Magistrates, and only a month or two ago he was the recipient of a presentation walking-stick from members of the police force to commemorate the services he had rendered to a constable in dealing with a violent ruffian. V. E. Walker was a great philanthropist; he gave a public recreation ground to Southgate, he spent thousands of pounds for public improvements in his neighbourhood, and no one will ever know the extent of his private charities.
In every circle in which he moved his death has created void which cannot be filled.