JOHN Walker, who has died aged 82, was an authority on the history of Bournemouth and shared his knowledge generously with others.

Born in Gosport, he was christened Herbert Thomas Walker but was known for life by the childhood nickname he owed to Johnnie Walker whisky.

He grew up in Portsmouth but was evacuated to Bournemouth during World War II. The evacuees stayed in old houses in Southbourne and John went to the newly built Bournemouth School.

John had vivid memories of seeing Poole Bay full of boats in June 1944 – and then suddenly empty as D-Day arrived.

After leaving Portsmouth Grammar School, John went to Sandhurst and spent 30 years in the Royal Engineers and Royal Corps of Transport, serving in Germany and Aden. He was married during his time in the Army and owned a home in Winton.

After leaving the Army as a major, John joined the Civil Service and worked in intelligence for the Ministry of Defence at Whitehall’s Northumberland House. He met his second wife Jacquie after living in the same block of flats for three years in London.

They married in 1986 and bought a flat in Bourne Court, off Bournemouth Square, before making a permanent home on the East Cliff following John’s retirement in 2000.

John, who was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1997, was a guide in the City of London and at the Globe Theatre and he took a guiding course in Bournemouth soon after retirement. He went on to lead guided walks of his own, on subjects including World War II, Bournemouth’s literary heritage, places of worship, the “famously bad” poet Cumberland Clark, and even a Walk, Wok and Wave event which included a Chinese meal and a boat trip on a Belle pleasure cruiser. His walk themed around famous murders attracted up to 30 people each New Year’s Day.

John was involved with Bournemouth Civic Society, St Peter’s church in Bournemouth and the Lower Gardens Trust.

He wrote the commentary heard on the Bournemouth sight-seeing balloon and the information board at Mary Shelley’s grave at St Peter’s. As well as a series of short books on local subjects, he published Bournemouth 1810-2010: A Bicentenary Celebration, and he gave a talk on stage at the Pavilion on its 80th birthday.

He won the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism title at the Bournemouth Tourism Awards in 2006.

During his time in the Army, he was its national chess champion, and was later a keen bridge and golf player. He was an authority on cricket at Dean Park and a keen Cherries follower.

His many friends included the hairdresser George Fairweather, who had been Tony Hancock’s mentor, and John was well-versed on the local entertainments scene.

As well as his widow Jacquie, he is survived by Fiona and Derek, his children from his first marriage to Doris, and by his three grandchildren.