Sir James Nicol Walker CBE, former joint managing director of Walker’s Shortbread, passed away peacefully on Sunday 15 December at the age of 80.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Jennifer, his children Jacqui, Jamie, Bryony, and Alastair, and six cherished grandchildren Logan, Romy, Joshua, Torren, Joanie, and Wyatt.
Known as Jim, he was born in Elgin, Moray on 13 June 1944 to James and Winnie Walker.
After completing his education at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, Walker joined the family bakery alongside a workforce of 16 people and learnt every aspect of the work involved. He took up the position of the company’s first salesperson and was responsible for sales and marketing during his long career.
“For over 60 years, he dedicated his life to creating and building the iconic Walker’s brand across the world. Jim was incredibly hard working; he was devoted to building strong personal relationships founded on trust with those he met on his travels. Many of these became enduring partnerships, lasting decades,” the company said.
In his role as joint managing director alongside his brother Joe, he was the driving force of Walker’s sales growth, developing the business from a small family bakery in Aberlour to a globally recognised brand, achieving £184m of turnover in 2023 (from £40,000 in the year that he joined), and being awarded the Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth in 2002.
He recently stepped aside from his main responsibilities to an ambassadorial and advisory role, allowing the members of the fourth generation, including three of his children, to take on the management of the company.
He also held the position of Deputy Lieutenant of Banffshire from 1998-2019 and was awarded the CBE for services to industry in 1999. In 2022, he was named within the prestigious Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood in Queen Elizabeth II’s last Birthday Honours list and subsequently was invested by King Charles III at the Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh. The Honour of Knighthood was in recognition of exceptional services to the food industry.
Beyond his professional legacy, he will be remembered for his warmth, humility, and generosity of spirit. He was described as “a person who took genuine interest in others and who was well loved in the business and the wider community. He was enormously loved by many people around the world, especially colleagues and customers”.
Away from work, he loved fishing on the River Spey, playing golf, and he had a keen interest in ornithology and nature, though his family, with four children and six grandchildren, and business, have been his main interest and pleasures.
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