Walker family reunion in Lyttelton

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 4

Walker family reunion in Lyttelton

By

PAM MORTON

Descendants of the Yorkshire-born Walker family will gather in Lyttelton on January 14 and 15 to retrace their family history.

Members of four families descended from 'William and Ann Walker will hold a reunion in the port town where the Walkers embarked from the immigrant ship Zealandia, in 1858. The reunion organiser, Mrs Irene Price, said about 180 members of the Painter, Walker, McLean and Lewin families were expected to attend.

A boot-maker, Mr Walker set up business in Lyttelton from 1858 to 1870. Accompanied by their five children on the voyage out, the couple had another two children after settling in their new home. When his business was burnt out in a fire Mr Walker bought land in West Melton and went farming. One child returned to England but the rest remained in New Zealand.

The youngest boy and girl both married members of the Painter family who were renowned for their publicity stunts advertising their cycle shop. Mr Fred Painter, who married Isabel Walker, established the bicycle bands in Christchurch in the early 1900 s. Band members would ride on bicycles playing a variety of instruments. Mr Painter was not only a professional bandsman but a keen cycle racer. Another stunt used to publicise the shop was a person riding a bicycle on a rope above the Avon River with a woman passenger hanging from the bicycle. Mrs Price said more descendants of the Painter family were being sought. The Lyttelton connection remained intact with Mr Walker’s eldest daughters marrying into the Lewin and McLean families in Lyttelton. A grandson, Mr George Lewin, worked as a journalist for many years covering local events.

Mrs Price said the main reunion activities would be held in Lyttelton. The group would be welcomed by the Mayor, Mr Mel Foster, on Saturday afternoon. A history and slide show would be presented in the Lyttelton recreation centre and a dine and dance would be held during the evening. On Sunday a picnic will be held at West Melton where Mr Walker farmed.

Mrs Price said a year’s planning had gone into organising the reunion.