William 'Dudley' Walker

It is with a heavy heart that I sit and write this post. I hadn't really planned to post another update to the blog just yet but I learnt last night that Bill, a.k.a. Dudley, has sadly passed away. Active to the last, it seems he suffered a heart attack whilst skiing in Austria, I believe with members of his Keswick Scout Group.

Though I've only known him since the summer of 2010, we have crossed, states, counties and countries together and roomed together along the way, the last time of course, being in the summer of 2013, on our Wild West adventure. In those few years I've barely scratched the surface, just enough to appreciate what a kind, thoughtful and funny gentleman he was, showing an immense love for his family, especially his grandchildren. Wherever we stopped, he was always looking for something to take back home for them and postcards to send them, so they could follow him on his travels. My heart goes out to them and the rest of his family. He was one top bloke and I and the other Hogs shall miss him dearly.

It's very, very hard to believe that this tour, planned with his inclusion from the start, will now see him absent from the line-up. Grizzly and I have discussed it and we both feel that Bill would not want us to change our plans but as a mark of respect for him, the tour will now be known as, The William Walker Memorial Tour, rather than the Hogs of War, so whilst absent in body, he'll be with us in spirit.

Thanks for some magic moments Dud, our thoughts are with you!



Bill 'Dudley' Walker, riding the American dream - June 2013