Daughter pays homage to her WW2 airman father at book launch

 You couldn’t find a more fitting place than MOTAT’s Aviation Display Hall in Western Springs for the launch of book, From Battle of Britain Airman to POW Escapee: The Story of Ian Walker RAF.

Surrounded by aircraft and strategically positioned in front of a Lancaster Bomber, guests were moved by Angela Walker’s loving tribute to her late father. Speaking with huge admiration and respect, Angela talked about Ian’s many war time exploits, including his audacious escape from a German prisoner of war camp, and talked about why she was inspired to write the book.

Here, we meet a man who Sir Winston Churchill described as one of “The Few” who flew scores of death-defying missions over Germany with Bomber Command. We also hear about Ian Walker the athlete (he was a champion cyclist who narrowly missed on being selected for the Empire Games) and family man; a gentle soul who talked little of his war time experiences, but who loved to spend time in his garden and eat organic food.

Angela’s book was launched by friend and special guest Lisa Chappell (best known for playing Claire McLeod in ‘McLeod’s Daughters’). Together, they shared heart-felt and humorous anecdotes about a remarkable man whose athleticism, determination and courage not only inspired Angela to write about him, but to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

To the delight of guests, many of whom remembered Ian with great fondness, Angela and Lisa also read from his many letters and journals. Discovered posthumously, these are the central pivot of From Battle of Britain Airman to POW Escapee: The Story of Ian Walker RAF, a book which takes the reader on a thrilling journey into the heart of Europe’s theatre of war.

From Battle of Britain Airman to POW Escapee: The Story of Ian Walker RAF by Angela Walker is distributed by South Pacific Books and available in bookshops nationwide.