Cycling enthusiasts at a rally in London

My eyes popped out of my head when I saw this fantastic photograph of cycling enthusiasts as I instantly recognised one of the group as a person whose life and career I have been researching and writing about for years. The tall man at the back with the tartan flat cap is unmistakably Joseph Jowett Walter Walker, a Victorian music hall star who went by the stage name Walter Munroe. I will refer to him as Walter as this was always his preference.

Walter was born on 4th December 1855 in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. He was the son of Brearcliffe Walker (1828-1877), a Professor of Music and pianist, and Anne Jowett (1828-1861). In 1880, in Portsmouth, he married Elizabeth Emma Burrows (1863-1902) who was the step daughter of my 2x great grandfather George Allen, a retired army veteran. In other words, George was Walter’s father-in-law. Eventually, Walter and Emma shared their home in Camberwell, London, with George and his wife.

Walter had a reputation as being a most generous and affable man, the life and soul of the party. From an early age he was apparently a junior boot dancing champion in Ireland, he had a very good singing voice, acted in many plays and could tell a yarn or story at the drop of a hat. He was a good songwriter and very adept at putting music to the poetry and words of others. However, he certainly had a lot of the ‘blarney’ and some of the stories he told about himself were probably a ‘little’ exaggerated to say the least. He describes that by the age of 10 he was walking from town to town in England singing and telling his tales in public houses and small theatres. At one stage he performed in a circus. He certainly learned his trade well because by the time he was 25 he was appearing at theatres all around the country and, when in his 30s, was headlining at most of them. In 1912, Walter appeared on the bill of the Royal Command Performance, Palace Theatre, in London. Elizabeth, also known as Minnie, always accompanied Walter on his travels and was constantly by his side, except on the stage of course.

George’s only income was a meagre army pension and so he and his wife almost certainly earned their keep by looking after Walter’s house in his absence, cooking and acting as theatrical costume “dressers” when required. Although Walter was a keen cyclist and often cycled to London venues, during the 1890s he obtained a pony and trap which he used to get about town. I know for certain that George, who grew up on a farm, looked after and groomed the horse, and drove Walter around the city.

In 1889, just as Walter Munroe was about to go on stage at Collins’ Music Hall, Islington, he was handed a letter which explained that his brother John, a musician, had just died in North London. The curtain had gone up, so Walter went on and entertained the audience.

Walter was a very caring and charitable person and in 1890 became founder member of the Association of Terriers, later re-named the Beneficent Order of Terriers. This was a charitable association aiming to assist theatrical performers and their dependants when welfare support was required. To this end, they organised dinners, excursions and sporting competitions in order to raise funds. Walter often entered multiple running and cycling events and on at least one occasion his wife Elizabeth ran in the ladies’ 60 yard dash. (The cycle event was very popular amongst the male performers as many used cycles to get to theatres). The pair often presented the prizes. Incidentally, during this period, clog or boot dancing was very popular in London and Walter often appeared as a judge during dance competitions.

The photographer of the cycle group portrait, Arthur Simmons, was a friend of Walter’s and they, together with other entertainers, used to socialise together at the Bricklayers’ Arms in Camberwell. Arthur was also a member of the Terriers and I have learned that he photographed all 70 members. (I have not found one of them and so am very grateful for Brad finding and posting this particular photo). In 1902, Elizabeth died of consumption and was buried at Nunhead Cemetery; over 500 people, many from the theatrical profession, were in attendance. A photo of Elizabeth printed in the Era journal at that time was taken by Arthur Simmons. The couple had no children. In 1903, Walter married Lucy Charnley, a popular singer, dancer and stage actress. They also had no children. Walter died in 1914 and is buried in Layton Cemetery, Blackpool.

Google is not very helpful in researching Walter. There are bits and pieces, but unfortunately there was a stage agent of the same name who married a male impersonator which complicates things. My research was mostly via theatres and the Era stage magazine, and through family sources. I have read thousands of reviews about Walter in the British Newspaper Archive – but never a bad one!

The following 3 links are of a photo of:

Walter with George Robey and Dan Leno, all leading music hall stars of their time. Taken in 1901, they are wearing fancy dress at a Charity Sports Event.

Close up head photos of Walter from Brad’s photo and the Charity Sports Event. Walter clearly has an eye injury at the sports, probably from a box of matches igniting in his face the year before.

A poster of one of Walter’s shows.

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