My friend Denise Walker, who has died aged 68 after a short illness, began her working life as a bilingual secretary, spent time running an after-school French club and later taught IT at an adult education college.
She also made a great impact through her volunteering, including at the Latika children’s tennis club in Wokingham, Berkshire, where as chair between 2009 and 2022 she led the way on the building of a new clubhouse and the installation of floodlights. In addition she was honorary secretary of the Berkshire Lawn Tennis Association from 2013 until her death.
An exceptionally outgoing person, in her various jobs and roles Denise always brought great joie de vivre, and was adept at making friends from all walks of life.
Born in Wythenshaw, Greater Manchester, to Alicia (nee Taylor), a nurse, and Stanley Clegg, an Electricity Board employee, she went to Mount St Joseph school in Bolton, where she excelled at music, achieving grade 8 in piano, and also at languages, particularly French.
After her A-levels she did a two-year bilingual secretarial course at Salford College of Technology (1974-76) and worked as a bilingual secretary at the Foreign Office. Then she moved to the French chemical company Rhône-Poulenc, in a similar role at its London office.
On holiday during her time with the firm she met Martin Walker, an accountant, and they married in 1981. After taking some time out to raise their child, Matthew, she then ran a French after-school club on a franchise basis for Le Club Français. Later she taught IT skills to adults at Bracknell and Wokingham College, retiring from there in 2008.
Denise and Martin shared a love of sports and travel. They visited the Beijing and Rio Olympics and several grand slam tennis tournaments, with Denise volunteering at Wimbledon during the 2012 Olympics.
Above all Denise was an expert in the art of luxuriating over an afternoon chat, laughing over a gin and tonic or a pot of tea, and in that way she made many people’s lives much richer.
She is survived by Martin, Matthew and two grandchildren, Sophia and Annabel.
Source: theguardian.com
