The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
KING OF ENGLAND COMPL PL|MENTS DIVER Built Concrete Peers in Water Under Cathedral CHURCH WAS SINKING King and Queen Attend Thanksgiving Service at Completion of New
 Foundations for Historic
 Church
CHURCH WAS SINKING

London, August 10-(Special)-On more the King has shown his personal interest in those who do the hard manual work of the world. His visit to Win chester for the service of Thanksgiving. which marked the saving of the cathedral from decay has had as its hero work ing man.
 The danger to the stability of the ca thedral was due to the foundations being laid upon marshy soil. When T. G. Jack son, the architect called into advice the dean and chapter, laid bare these foun- dations seven years ago, he found that there was a great quantity of water un- der the churchh. Eight hundred years ago the eastern arm of the cathedral had been built upon the trunks of trees laid lengthwise upon soft soil. Gradually these sank, and it was necessary to SUD- ply the support they had ceased to give by underpnning the cathedral witt blocks of concrete
 This was worN which had to be done in water and under water by a diver This diver, William Robert Walker, fig ured very honorably and prominently in the proceedings In the account of the
 
 sent to the King the diver was thus men toned
 "The same diver has carried through l the whole work of underpinnlng For five and a half years ne has been bur rowing under the cathedral, laboring In the dark, the water being too discolored to allow of the use of electric light No one could supervise him. but no portion of the work was scimped. Whenever MT. Fox, the engineer, put on diving dress and went down to inspect he found that the diver had conseientiously and most | effectively performed his task. The pub lie owes MT, Walker great debt of gratitude"
 The King having read this tribute, said he would like to make Mr.. Walker S acquaintance. After the service. when their majesties went to look at the new buttresses on the south side of the nave. the diver was presented. The King shook | him cordially by the hand. How long have you been at work here?' he in- 1 qured Nearly six years. your majesty" was the reply. And how many hours day were you actually in the water?' 'Six hours a day, sir"
 Really" the King said, T congratu- late you upon your feat in saving the cathedral"
 MT. Walker is a Londoner, a sturdy, fresh compleXioned, pleasant hammered type of skilled artisan. He received the ngratulations of his majesty and other guests with charming modesty The Archbishop of Canterbury in his sermon spoke of him by name and In | terms of high oommendation. Ut made me feel rather uncomfortable to be 1 spoken of in the pulpit and before all that host of people," said MT Walker, but l dare say they didn't know I was the man his grace was talking about. Was 1t difficult? Well, 1t wasn't | easy, but would gladly do it all over again. I am proud man to have been | able to help in such grand work" The total cost of this work up to the present has been s57O,O00 This was 1 raised by public subscription without any great difficulty, not in large gifts l but for the most part in quite small sums Special prayers were included in the service with reference to those who had contributed and taken part in the operations.
 The King wearing frock coat with grey waistcoat and hat, and a white flower in his buttonhole, and the Queen in pink with a featheredhat, arrived at the cathedral after their visit to the Guildhall at 2:30. The service was inn pressive and the music very fine. One felt the thrill of the legend on the cover of the order of the service
 Winchester Cathedral. Built to the gloryS of God, 10S7-1093 Preserved from danger by the goodness
 of God,
 1905-1912.
 Conservation on St. Swinthin's Day,
 10g3
 Thanksgiving service, St. Swinthins
 Day, 1912.
 That drove home the continuity of the noble traditions and the enduring faith which the glorious pile of grey stones enshrines. Here were conse- crated and buried the earliest Kings of England, here came now the reigning King of England, their successor to worship and give thanks under the beautiful groined and vaulted roof, un- der the vast walls and soaring arches which have seen so much of the history of England made.