One of his abiding early memories of Margaret Thatcher was that, at the Commons swearing-in ceremony for the new MPs, she had heard of his accident and told him: “Go now and get well — your first duty is to your family”
in Perth and East Perthshire, later Tayside North.
There was massive competition - 44 other applicants - but Bill was chosen and, in the 1979 election, won the seat from the SNP.
His victory was all the more remarkable as he had badly damaged his back, crushing seven vertebrae, in a gliding accident and fought the entire campaign in a wheelchair before spending several months wearing a metal brace.
One of his abiding early memories of Margaret Thatcher was that, at the Commons swearing-in ceremony for the new MPs, she had heard of his accident and told him: “Go now and get well — your first duty is to your family.”
Being a staunch believer in private enterprise and personal initiative made him a natural Thatcher supporter. He was also a convinced and unwavering Eurosceptic.
He retained his seat, despite boundary changes, in 1983, 1987 and 1992 and only lost it to the SNP’s John Swinney in 1997.
Throughout his Commons years he chose to remain a backbencher, though he managed to get five Private Member’s Bills passed.
These included the Term and Quarter Days Act, which regularised farm leasing arrangements, and the Scotch Whisky Act which, with later additions, greatly helped the industry achieve its thriving position today.
And in co-operation with Dundee Labour MP Ernie Ross, he helped to save the closure-threatened Dundee Dental Hospital.
He held various directorships and chairmanships in the private sector, was deputy chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party 20002002 and was made an OBE in 1998.
He held three senior posts linked to the Air Cadets and gliding and listed gliding, youth work and the RAF Volunteer Reserve, where he was a group captain, under “recreations” in Who’s Who.
Bill Walker leaves a widow, Mavis; three daughters Clova, Fiona and Justine; and six grandchildren.