Talk:Denis Walker

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Denis Walker is still running the Rhodesian Christian Group, with Father Lewis. 81.136.138.184 14:26, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Honourable

W D Walker is an Hon., please use my TALK pages if you require further proof. Do not edit this without agreement again, I don't want an editing war. (Couter-revolutionary 13:20, 6 June 2006 (UTC))

I believe that is questionable. Commonwealth practice varied, with some countries granting 'the honourable' to Ministers in perpetuity, and some only while they held office. Even if the Rhodesian practice was to have the title for life, then whether or not it currently applies would also depend on the present government of Zimbabwe deciding to continue - and I somehow doubt that they would be willing to do that. David | Talk 15:01, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

He is an Honourable, I know this for certain, and it will be recorded somewhere, but where? (Couter-revolutionary 16:57, 9 June 2006 (UTC))

As it happens I do now know the answer. The normal situation in Rhodesia was that Ministers had the title "the Honourable" while in office, but not out of it. However, they could make a request, on leaving office, to retain the title for life. Such a request was, it seems, invariably granted. A notice to the effect was placed in the Rhodesia Government Gazette. However the request was only likely to be made if the Minister concerned knew he would not be returning to government, and following the return of administration of Southern Rhodesia to the UK in December 1979 no more requests were made. As I had guessed, the Zimbabwe government never entertained the prospect of granting such a title of honour to members of previous white governments.

I have checked through every issue of the Southern Rhodesia Government Gazette (1962-65), the Rhodesia Government Gazette (1965-1979), the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Government Gazette (1979), the Southern Rhodesia Government Gazette (1979-80) and the Zimbabwe Government Gazette (1980-85, where I stopped) and have found no such request from W. Denis Walker (I was looking for other things, but kept an eye out for this). As he was still a Deputy Minister when the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia government handed back control in 1979, he would not really have had the opportunity.

It is possible (though unlikely) that a general proclamation was made allowing all to retain the use of the title. If so, then there would no doubt be a reference to this effect somewhere, waiting to be found. I have yet to find it, however. David | Talk 10:52, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

I happen to know W D Walker to some extent and he refers to himself as the Hon. He is not the sort to do this unless it were official. (Couter-revolutionary 14:32, 23 September 2006 (UTC))

If you could mention this to him then perhaps we could clear it up definitively. David | Talk 14:53, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

Do you mean to call yourself, 'couNter-revolutionary? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.43.104.19 (talk) 23:02, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, you'll note I now am Counter-revolutionary (talk) 23:20, 1 June 2008 (UTC)!