As a former shopkeeper, community man and all round “fabulous person” Walter Sanger gave so much to St Keverne and Cornwall as a whole.

Now the life and work of Walter will be remembered this month, following his death at the age of 81.

Walter was born in Rhynie, Scotland and lived there until he was 16, when he joined the Royal Navy onboard the training ship HMS Ganges. Not only would this shape his early career, but also lead to him meeting his future wife, Christine.

When Walter’s parents were unable to attend his navy graduation, they asked their friends to attend on their behalf. Walter was duly invited back to their home for the weekend, where he struck up a connection with their daughter Christine.

The rest, as they say, was history and they married in 1962.

Walter and wife Christine on holiday together (Image: Family pictures) Walter travelled to various countries around the world during his time in the navy and in 1966 was posted to RNAS Culdrose in Helston, where he flew helicopters.

The couple, together with their two young children, Patricia and Andrew, duly moved to Cornwall and set up home, initially in Helston, before moving to Mylor and then back to Helston.

In 1983 Walter left the navy and the family moved to St Keverne, which would begin a new and important chapter in their lives.

Walter and Christine bought the village shop and named it St Keverne Stores. Over the subsequent 23 years in their ownership it became a hub for village life.

In 2006 they decided to give up the shop and focus on running a bed and breakfast from their home at Laddenvean, which they continued until the Covid pandemic hit in 2020.

Walter celebrating his 80th birthday (Image: Family pictures) Aside from being a businessman, Walter was perhaps best known for his work in the community.

He started as a St Keverne parish councillor before becoming a Kerrier district councillor. He was the last chairman of Kerrier District Council before it was amalgamated with the then Cornwall County Council, to become a unitary authority in 2009.

The chairmanship was a huge honour for Walter, with Christine recalling: “It was an absolutely fantastic year.”

It did, however, lead to one particularly humorous occasion when Walter was invited as a guest onboard a Mexican tall ship docked in Falmouth. Something was lost in translation, as Walter was duly introduced as ‘The King of Cornwall’!

With the arrival of the unitary authority, Walter went on to become a Cornwall councillor.

Christine said Walter loved his time on all the councils, adding: “All he wanted to do was be there for people. If he could help anyone in any way - get a house or planning permission, or anything - that was what he really loved.

“He really did do a good job.”

Walter leading the An Gof parade into St Keverne square (Image: Family pictures) Outside of his civic work, Walter was heavily involved in the life of St Keverne. He helped revive the village carnival, set up a cubs and scouts group – for which he was scout leader – and was involved in the Royal British Legion, the Allotments Society and was a founder of the Gardening Club.

Other organisations included Good Companions, St Keverne Community Lunch Club and Clean Cornwall Heroes.

He sang with a number of local choirs, including Maen Voes Choir and Manacle Voices, was part of the annual pantomimes by the Keverne Kaudlers, and was also very involved in the life of the parish church.

He and Christine both enjoyed American square dancing and used to teach it at Mawgan and St Keverne School, as well as go away to events at the weekend.

In 2019 Walter was presented with the Russell Peters Community Award by St Keverne Parish Council.

Sarah Lyne presents Walter Sanger with his award in 2019. Image: Katie Nightingale“He was just an absolutely fabulous person,” said Christine.

The couple went on to have six grandchildren.

Three years ago Walter was diagnosed with a blood cancer, which was being controlled, but rarely this can develop into acute myeloid leukaemia, and this is what happened to Walter.

He died on September 24, at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

A funeral service will now take place at St Keverne Parish Church on Thursday, October 24 at 2pm. The ukulele band that Walter started will be playing at his funeral.

The service will be followed by the committal at Treswithian Downs Crematorium, Camborne on Friday, October 25 at 10am.

Donations can be left in aid of St Keverne Parish Church and Cancer Research UK, by retiring collection or via Pendle Funeral Directors’ website.