Jack Walker was born in the Little Harwood are of Blackburn on the 19th of May 1929, one of four children along with brothers Fred and George, and sister Jean.

Once Jack had left school, he went to work for his father Charles, who had a sheet metal business on St. Peter Street in Blackburn. Young Jack then did a stint of national service in the army, before returning to the family firm.

In 1950 Jack took over the family firm with his brother Fred when his father passed away. The two brothers concentrated the business in the surplus steel business, greatly increasing the annual turnover of the company.

Because of a growth in the business, Walkersteel changed premises on several occasions before in 1970 the brothers decided to purchase a 55 acre site at Guide, building the Walkersteel factory that still remains today.

The company went from strength to strength, a sign proudly proclaimed that the factory was the largest of its kind in the World.

In 1974 Jack purchased a house in Jersey for his family, moving from Osbaldeston on the outskirts of Blackburn.

By the late 1980's Walkersteel had grown to such an extent that it was one of the worlds largest steel stockists, with the company employing more than three thousand staff in over sixty locations.

The Walker brothers then sold the business to British Steel for more than £300 million pounds in what was a record sale for a private company.

Jack then went into 'retirement', but instead of relaxing in Jersey, Jack Walker decided to splash the cash and purchased his hometown club Blackburn Rovers in 1991.

At this time Blackburn Rovers were a bog-standard second division side, neither looking like going up or looking like going down, but despite having Jack Walkers money they club failed to attract the kind of players they were approaching.

None of the national press had ever heard of Jack Walker until the day that Blackburn Rovers unveiled Kenny Dalglish as their new manager in October 1991.

Dalglish spent Jack Walkers money heavily, guiding the club to promotion to the Premier League.

On the town hall balcony after an open top bus parade through the town, Jack Walker proclaimed "don't call me big fat Jack, call me Uncle Jack, I've lost weight!" From then on, Jack Walker, was simply known as Uncle Jack.

In the summer of 1992, Blackburn Rovers signalled their intentions on English football by breaking the transfer record when signing Alan Shearer for £3.2m, the football club finished fourth in their first season in the top flight.

In the summer of 1994, Rovers broke the transfer record once again with Jack Walker bankrolling the £5m purchase of striker Chris Sutton, and with the infamous "SAS", Shearer & Sutton shot Blackburn Rovers to their first Championship for eighty-one years.

Alas the dream turned sour following that high-point, firstly manager Kenny Dalglish left the club, then several high profile players, as the rest of the Premiership caught up to the spending limits that Rovers had reached.

Despite Jack Walker putting his faith and money in several managers, the football club were relegated at the end of the 1998/99 season.

Images of Jack Walker in tears were broadcast live on television as the crowd sang "there's only one Jack Walker"

Rovers failed to bounce back at the first attempt, but on Friday the 18th of August 2000, in the opening weeks of the 2000/01 season, the football world was shocked by the news that Jack Walker had sadly passed away.

Manager Graeme Souness vowed to get the club promoted as a tribute to Jack Walker, and on the night of the 2nd of May 2001, "there's only one Jack Walker" echoed around Deepdale as Blackburn Rovers were promoted back into the Premier League.

Everyone dedicated the promotion to the man they called Mr. Blackburn, with club captin Garry Flitcroft proudly wearing a t-shirt saying "Jack, this is 4 you".

I'm sure Jack Walker had a smile on his face.

© Lee