Background
He was the elder son of Henry Herbert Walton and Clara Martha Walton (née Dobrantz), of Dulwich. He married, in 1940, Helen Alexandra Dingwall, eldest daughter of Alexander Dingwall of Jedburgh.
He was the elder son of Henry Herbert Walton and Clara Martha Walton (née Dobrantz), of Dulwich. He married, in 1940, Helen Alexandra Dingwall, eldest daughter of Alexander Dingwall of Jedburgh.
He was educated at Dulwich College and Balliol College, Oxford where he was Open Scholar and received a Bachelor in 1937 and a Master of Arts in 1942.
He was President of the Oxford Union in 1938. He was knighted in 1973. Called to Bar, Lincoln’s Inn, 1939.
War service in Anti-Aircraft Artillery (including Instructor in Gunnery and Experimental Officer), 1940-1946.
Returned to practice at Bar, 1946. Queen's Counsel 1963. Legal correspondent, Financial Times, 1953-1972.
Member, Lord Chancellor’s Law Reform Committee, 1959-1983. Bencher, 1970. Chairman, Insolvency Rules Adviser.
Committee, 1977-1983. Church Commissar for England, 1969-1973.
Deputy Chairman, Boundaries Commn for England, 1973-1986. Honorary Fellow, College of Estate Management, 1977.
He was a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division from 1973–1987.
Editor-in-Chief, Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents, 5th edn, since 1985. While at Oxford University he joined the University Liberal Club and in 1936 he became Club President. Shortly after becoming President of the Oxford Union in February 1938, at the age of 23, he was selected as Liberal prospective parliamentary candidate for the Gloucestershire division of Thornbury.
The election was expected to take place in 1939 but the outbreak of war meant the election was deferred.
After the war, he switched to stand as Liberal candidate for the North Lambeth Division at the 1945 General Election. However, in 1945 he was in a three-way fight and came third;
After the election he concentrated on his legal career and did not stand for parliament again.