Samantha with her Dad

Gaylen Walker, on December 7, 2008, said:

Hi Rob

That is really amazing. I was stationed on the USS Los Alamos at Holy Loch. I went to church on Fox street in Greenock. That is where I met wife and we were married at that church in 1972. She is from Port Glasgow. My sister lives in Pinetop Arizona. She used to live in Phoenix. Another sister used to live in Idaho Falls. I have also been to Germany at Ramstein Air Base, Cat Lo Naval Base Viet Nam for a year Howard AFB Panama, R&R Sydney Australia, Lille France, Clark Air Force in the Philippines, Calgary Canada, and a few more places. My wife and I live in Murray, Utah now. It’s a small world. My flickr page is at http://flickr.com/photos/24701599@N05/ Are you a pilot? I was wondering about the aerial photos.

Best regards,

Gaylen

Robert Mcewen, on December 8, 2008, said:

Hi there Gaylen.

Chuff me, have you been busy over the last quarter century. All them places you've been stationed at. As a person who loves to travel, but is hampered by insufficient holiday time, money and 5 kids to feed and clothe, I'm more than jealous at your portfolio of places visited.

Here is another coincidence for you, and something else we have in common. My younger sister lives in Phoenix also. Scotsdale actually; but it's close enough. I think that's where the similarities between our lives might end. But it was interesting there for a while seeing how our life's paths had been so close and have crossed over the years.

No I'm not a pilot by the way; just a humble tourist that has got my camera out whilst been by the window in economy class travel. the closest I got to being a pilot was applying for the RAF back in 78. I was initially accepted, but gave up on the idea to go on a mission for the church. I ended up serving in Manchester and Liverpool areas for my sins. When I got back, I ended up pursuing a sales career selling wood workshop machinery. Not nearly as glamorous a life as you Gaylen, but hindsight would have been a wonderful thing.

I'm now going to go on google earth to see where Murray is. I currently live in Killamarsh, Sheffield if it's of interest and you fancy doing the same. All my Utah photos are as a result of family holidays to visit my wife's sister in Ogden.

Anyway, that'll do for now.

Rob

Gaylen Walker, on December 10, 2008, said:

Rob I notice that we have another place we shared. I went to the first area conference held outside of the United States in Manchester. It was held in 1971 or 1972. My life is not so glamorous either. I work at the Caterpillar dealership here in Utah in the warehouse. I have been there for 33 years now. I have been lucky enough to travel in the air national guard (six years, just week ends and a two week trip each year) and the navy (four years)and on holiday. While I was in Scotland I hitch hiked from Greenoch to London while on leave. I remember stopping in Nottingham in the early morning after traveling in a lorry all night. I took pictures of the castle there. Is your wife from England?

Robert Mcewen, on December 11, 2008, said:

Unbelievable. I can't believe how often our lifes paths have crossed over. I was at that conferance too.

You're right about the year by the way. I'm guessing it was 71 also as I would have been 12 then and had recently been ord'ned a Deacon. I remember my dad dragged me along to the Friday night P'hood Session of conferance. What was you doing at that Area Conferance in Manchester so far from home? Was your dad somehow connected with it all, or a mission president, or the like?

To add further to the coincidences of our lives. My Dad joined the Church whilst he was living in Nottingham. He lived as a boy in Crewe during WW 11 but then moved to Nottingham and spent his teenage years there; which incidentally is also the city where I was born and lived for a short while before my parents upped sticks and moved to Huddersfield.

Here's an interesting snippet of info for you. My dad and Stephen R Covey ( quite a prominent Utah'n and church member if you have heard of him ) were mission companions back in 56 or 57, I'm guessing.

As for our not so glamorous life styles. It looks like both of us have grown comfortable at what we do and have stayed put all these years just to ensure there was always sufficient to keep the wolves away from the door and the mortgage got paid.

As for my wife Lisa. Yes she's English. She's one of those rare breeds you very ocassionally find over here; a 4th generation LDS. Her Great Grand Parents joined the church around the late 1800's and have remained active ever since.

Anyway, I must appologize for all this unnececcary rambling. I just found it so un canny when I read how you'd passed through Manchester and Nottingham.

Cheers Gaylen.

Have a good one .

Rob

Gaylen Walker, on December 11, 2008, said:

This is amazing. My great great great grandfather, John Walker, is from Manchester. His son, William Holmes Walker, served a small part of his mission in England while on his way to Africa http://www.loc.gov/rr/mss/text/walker.html . The reason I was at that conference is because the Greenock branch hired a bus to take us there. I was 22 years old at the time and in the Navy stationed at Holy Loch. I had an old super8 movie camera and took some movies at the conference.

Cheers Rob

Have a good day.

Gaylen

Robert Mcewen, on December 13, 2008, said:

Hi Gaylen.

Would have replied last night but I spent my night ferrying my daughter Lydia and her friends to a dance in an ajoining stake. It was late when I was back.

This address for your walker relative. I tried putting it in as you've written and got no response. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but it ain't giving me anything. It just comes up 'page not found'.

Cheers,

Rob

Gaylen Walker, on December 16, 2008, said:

Rob

If you do a search for William Holmes Walker on Yahoo or Google you should find it.

Cheers,

Gaylen

Robert Mcewen, on December 17, 2008, said:

Hi Gaylen.

Tried again and had success this time. WHW seems to be a well known and well documented man amongst church literature. Very interesting!

Cheers,

Rob