William Walker (diver)

William Walker, MVO, (* 1869 in Newington, Surrey, England; † 1918) was the most experienced divers the British company Siebe Gorman. Its use from April 1906 to September 1911 helped to restore the stability of the cathedral of Winchester.

The church was in danger of sinking into the ground of peat and ground-level groundwater. To secure the foundations of the groundwater had lowered and the walls were reinforced. Since the foundation walls threatened to give way at uncontrolled pumping, they had to be supported, as the church would otherwise have collapsed immediately.

Therefore, along the southern and eastern foundations around 235 up to 6 m deep pits were excavated. Supported by his signal man William West Walker appeared with a helmet diving equipment in these pits under the foundation of the Church. There he removed the peat layer and put the walls with small cement bags, which were finally opened, abbanden and so could form a strong support. After that the groundwater was pumped out and Maurer were able to perform the actual remediation work. Walker worked there up to six hours a day in total darkness, as the displaced water with suspended particles to light was completely impenetrable and completely took the view.

Overall, the use of about 25,000 sacks of cement, 115,000 cement blocks and 900,000 bricks were used.

For his efforts Walker was appointed Member of The Royal Victorian Order ( MVO ). William Walker died along with his wife of the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918.

A bust at the Cathedral of Winchester recalls Walker and his dedication earned him the "saved the man Winchester Cathedral with his two hands," the name.