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The 74-year-old has been awarded the MBE for services to cricket.
Born in Bristol in 1936, but partly educated in South Africa, Walker spent two years in the Merchant Navy before playing for Glamorgan between 1954 and 1972.
Walker was a member of the Glamorgan team who won the county championship in 1969 and he won three Test caps in 1960.
His record of 17,000 first-class runs and 770 wickets was backed up by 740 catches with Walker recognised as one of the greatest close fielders.
“It is such an honour and something I feel humble about,” said Walker, who lives in Cardiff and served as Glamorgan president until recently.
“I am immensely grateful and this is not something I remotely thought I would be considered for.
“I have been a professional cricketer, had a reasonable life in business and put something back into the game that has given me enormous pleasure.
“Playing three matches for England in 1960 was the personal pinnacle of my cricket career.
“But winning the championship with Glamorgan in 1969 was the best all-round performance.”
Walker was also a respected cricket writer and broadcaster when he retired in 1972.
For many years, he introduced the BBC coverage of the Sunday League and was also a commentator.
In 1985 he was the founder and managing director of Merlin Television which became the largest independent production company in Wales.
Walker was also a renowned cricket administrator after playing an integral part in the newly-formed Cricket Board of Wales between 1996 and 1999 as the inaugural chief executive.
This body was responsible for all aspects of junior development throughout Wales between the ages of 11-17 and promotion of junior cricket within 170 adult clubs.
Walker was also largely responsible for the development of the National Cricket Centre for Wales at Glamorgan’s home ground at Sophia Gardens, now the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, for which the MBE was officially awarded.
“While I am enormously proud of the broadcasting life that I had, I am also immensely proud of my time with the Cricket Board of Wales and that is what I regard as my major achievement,” added Walker.
“I suspect that is what has driven this award. If anything was to be included on my epitaph I suspect this would be it.
“We went out to spread the gospel of cricket across Wales after the establishment of the Cricket Board of Wales.
“This was especially fulfilling and showed the importance of cricket in the fabric of Welsh sport and life.”
Walker also enjoyed a stints as the Professional Cricketers’ Association chairman and became Glamorgan president in March 2009 before resigning last month after a difference in opinion regarding changes at the county.
“I would have never have run for the presidency unless I was approached by members,” added Walker.
“After our initial war of words, the chairman Paul Russell and I had a reasonable relationship for two years.
“I resigned on matters of principle because decisions were being made on specific cricket matters by people not involved in the game which I could not subscribe to.
“But I wish the club well and will continue to support the county as I have done since I was 18.”
Caerphilly’s Paul Davies receives an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby, while John Plain, of Cardiff, also gets an MBE for services to athletics.
Published: 7/01/2011
Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/sports-news-round-up/2010/12/31/cricket-peter-walker-delight-at-mbe-award-91466-27910919/
