Edward Forbes Walker

Edward Forbes Walker (born 1876) was a rugby union international who represented Great Britain on the 1903 tour to South Africa. He represented Great Britain twice but never won a cap for his national side, England.

Early life and family Edward Forbes Walker was the youngest of the nine children of William Walker and his wife Anna. William Walker was a Colonial Engineer, County Durham. Although William had relatively humble origins, a long and successful career meant that Edward was born into an affluent family. William had served a seven-year apprenticeship at the engine works of the Thornley Colliery and afterwards worked at the locomotive works of the North Eastern Railway, Bank Top, Darlington. He then went on to the works of Messrs. Fossick & Hackworth, Stockton-on-Tees and in 1853 moved again, this time to the works of Messrs. Thomas Richardson Sons, Hartlepool. At this company he spent two of his three years as one of their leading hands, and went to sea as engineer in charge of the first three steamers built by the company. In 1856 while with the third steamer he accepted an engagement with the Borneo Company and then was appointed superintendent engineer to the Netherlands India (Java) Mail Company, with whom he remained ten years until the expiration of their mail contract in 1869 continuing afterwards with their successors for a while. In this time, he had married Anna, from Dundee after the Kali Mas River, that runs through modern day Surabaya, Java and it was here that Edward spent his childhood. Edward, despite living opposite Dulwich College was sent to Eastbourne to boarding school at Eastbourne College.

Edward's older brother was John H. Walker. Edward was referred to in a report on the 1903 tour to South Africa as the brother of "Johnny" Walker of Durban fame, It is unclear if Edward did take up a profession, because in 1911 although he had moved to Clifton Gardens in Maida Vale, this was still the family home and he lived there with his mother and two of his sisters (as well as with a cook, parlormaid and housemaid) and stated that he was living by his own means. He was selected for the 1903 tour to South Africa and was described as a consistent player and played in two of the tests. The side at that point was not so strong as in previous seasons though it was said that in Blackwood who played alongside Walker they had a player that would have been selected England had he not been injured.