Teacher, organist and choirmaster; Born February 4, 1929; Died November 30, 2007.Stewart Walker, who died at the age of 78 in November, was born in New Cumnock and lived in the area most of his life. His early education was in Fife and later Cumnock Academy. As a young boy, Walker played the organ whenever his father Sam provided pulpit supply for St Andrew's United Free Church of Scotland in Cumnock. He also gained experience playing the organ at many other churches in the area.

Teacher, organist and choirmaster; Born February 4, 1929; Died November 30, 2007.

Stewart Walker, who died at the age of 78 in November, was born in New Cumnock and lived in the area most of his life. His early education was in Fife and later Cumnock Academy. As a young boy, Walker played the organ whenever his father Sam provided pulpit supply for St Andrew's United Free Church of Scotland in Cumnock. He also gained experience playing the organ at many other churches in the area.

On leaving school, Walker was employed by the National Coal Board as a mining surveyor. He expressed a desire to become a teacher and trained at Jordanhill College of Education in the early 1960s. He went on to be appointed as a music teacher at Cumnock Academy. Later he became principal guidance teacher before retiring as assistant head teacher in 1990. For many years after his retirement from teaching, he played the organ at Masonhill Crematorium in Ayr.

In 1954, he married Mary Blackwood and in the same year he became organist and choirmaster of St Andrew's Church in Cumnock, where his father had served as minister. Walker found his calling serving in his church. He was ordained as an elder in 1961 and served as Sunday school superintendent for several years. During his 53 years of faithful service as choirmaster, Walker took the choir to other churches in the denomination as well as various other churches in the area.

He also gave piano lessons, with some of his pupils going on to become prominent professional musicians. He was recognised as an expert in church organs and provided advice to many other churches. He retired as organist and choirmaster in September 2007.

He is survived by his wife Mary, sister Lorna, niece Rona and sister-in-law Martha.