JOHN WALTER FIFTH - SWWJ PATRON

WHO WAS JOHN WALTER?

I promised readers the story of  John Walter who, over the last few days, has been on my mind. 

As a member of the SWWJ,  an organisation for  women journalists way back in Victorian times, we often forget we enjoyed a quietly supportive masculine element. Apart from our founder, Joseph Snell Wood (1853-1920), there have always been helpful male Patrons, notably Lord Camrose, Sir Angus Wilson, Lord Astor of Hever, Sir William Collins, Viscount Northcliffe, among others, all titled gentlemen who gave financial support and, in some cases, silverware to the winners of our writing competitions. 

How interesting then to take a look at a powerful Patron, in this case, one lacking an impressive title.   John Walter (1873-1968) was the fifth generation newspaper magnate born, he once commented, “with ink in my veins”.  When he took the chair of Britain's then most prestigious newspaper The Times, he was continuing a dynasty.  His great-great-grandfather was the first John Walter who had started The Times in 1785.  Our Patron was always quietly proud of his name and family’s longevity.  John Walter became linked to the Society of Woman Journalists (as it was then known) at a challenging time just after World War I.  He supported us as he believed in our aims and always felt that women had gifts which were particularly valuable in journalism. He generously offered his help and patronage, joining with several Fleet Street magnates, including Sir Harry Brittain. 

On 23 October 1922, he and John Astor became joint chief proprietors of The Times. John Walter had achieved his aim of ensuring the paper's complete editorial independence. He stayed much the junior partner in a stable relationship, and his chief proprietorship, involving by that time only responsibility for the appointment and dismissal of the editor, lasted until The Times and the Sunday Times were merged under Lord Thomson of Fleet on 1 January 1967, when his family's long connection with The Times came to an end.

Regarded as an unassuming, quiet man, with rather an austere but courteous disposition, John Walter’s life and career in Fleet Street, spanned many decades.   During his 90th birthday luncheon speech in Printing House Square, he spoke only of the future. He did not feel his position precluded him from letting the editor know his views on public affairs.  He always emphasised that he did so as an ordinary reader. His loyalty to his editor's authority was absolute. If he was less forceful than his predecessors as head of The Times, he was more versatile. He painted and drew extremely well.  In his nineties, he still read The Times avidly, his dry comments making him an engaging companion.

Our patron died in a modest flat in Hove in August 1968.  But his name lives on inscribed  across our beautiful silver trophy which has been awarded to yours truly!