On the death of Sir Robert Woolley Walden, my first cousin three times removed several obituaries appeared. This one from the Surrey Mirror of 16 August 1929 is particularly interesting as it gives an insight to the later years of his life:-
SIR R. WOOLLEY WALDEN. DEATH OF PROMINENT RESIDENT OF WARLINGHAM the death of Sir Robert Woolley Walden. Bart., C.8.E., D.L., J.P., a prominent resident of Surrey, and one who had taken great part in public life, has passed away. The deceased gentleman, who was 75 years of age, had been ill for a considerable time, and died on Wednesday morning at his home. “Bella Vista.’’ Westhall Road. Warlingham. Sir Robert had been for many years associated with the public life of London, and especially the Westmister area.
When the Westminster City Council was formed in 1900, he was one of the first elected members, and he advanced to the office of Alderman, and was elected Mayor for 1908-09. Altogether he was a member of the Council for twenty years. He was a member of the Board of Guardians for St. George. Hanover Square, for twenty-one years, and had filled the office of Chairman. He was also a member of the Metropolitan Asylums Board for twenty-one years, and for six years of that time he occupied the position of Chairman. was a magistrate for the County of London, and was a member of the London County Licensing Committee. Thus he devoted a vast amount of what should have been his leisure time to the service of the public.
Amongst other positions he held was that of a member of the Metropolitan Water Board, and he was Chairman of the Water Examination Committee. His work as a Poor Law administrator was recognised when he was elected President of the Metropolitan Poor Law Conference from 1915 to 1917. During the war he took an active part in the Volunteer movement, and was a member and Deputy Chairman of the Military Appeal Tribunal for the County of London. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of London. His public services were recognised in 1921, when was given a Knighthood.
When Sir Robert took up his residence in Warlingham. about seventeen years ago, he was still a member of the authorities mentioned, and though they demanded great deal of his time, he soon began to take an interest in local government and other affairs in and around the district of his residence. In 1913 he was candidate for the Oxted Division of the Surrey County Council which embraces Warlingham), but he was little known in the locality at that time and was not successful at the polling. However, he continued to identify himself with the public life of the district, and several years ago was elected member of the Godstone Rural District Council and board of Guardians, in April, 1921, reelected in 1924, and retired in 1927.
He took a very keen and active interest in the work, and his experience of public service elsewhere enabled him to frequently offer sound advice. “Bella Vista” being very close to Whyteleafe, Sir Robert associated himself with the life the people in that parish, as well as in Warlingham. He was a generous supporter of the various organisations that exist in connection with the welfare of the people, and he was specially interested in the work the Whyteleafe Parish Church. For several years he was a member of the Parochial Church Council, having been re-elected at the annual meeting in March last.
When the scheme was started recent years for providing a public recreation ground in Whyteleafe, Sir Robert at once identified himself with the movement, and besides contributing towards the fund took active part promoting success that attended the effort to secure the ground. In politics Sir Robert was a Conservative. and for some years had held the position of President of the Whyteleafe Conservative and Unionist Association. Sir Robert was born at Spalding, and was educated at the Grammar School there and at Leamington. He settled in Westminster in business chemist. He married, in 1904. Jessie May, daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Edwards, of Stafford. She died in 1918. The funeral will take place to-day (Saturday), at Whyteleafe Parish Church, at 11.45 a.m.
