48 | FOREVER Keele
In Memoriam
Ellis Walker
GERMAN & BIOLOGY , 1998-2004
Having grown up locally , Ellis attended Newcastle High School after passing the 11 + and was a sports enthusiast from an early age . Interested in music , he also formed a school rock band , aged just 14 .
After winning the Army ’ s junior skiing championships , Ellis left school with the intention of skiing for the British Army . From here , he attended Army Apprentices College in Chepstow , Southwest England , a central training school for boys . His sporting prowess came through , with
Ellis coming second in a skiing championship and captaining the Chepstow Tug of War team during this time .
Ellis was then posted to the 35 Engineer Regiment , a unit of the British Army ’ s Royal Engineers . As part of the regiment , Ellis took part in ski racing over much of Europe , winning many cups in disciplines such as slalom and downhill racing .
After leaving the army , Ellis returned to the UK , where he married and had children , and later joined the fire service – during this time , he was a member of the ‘ extraction team ,’ which involved competing to remove a dummy from a burning car .
Throughout Ellis ’ life , another sporting interest had always been rugby , and this proved to be the sport he pursued during his time as a Keele student . As a mature student , Ellis completed the access course in just six weeks , and went on to study joint honours in German and Biology between 1998-2004 . Ellis was the rugby first team captain , and later Keele Rugby Club captain , led the team to the semi-finals of the Universities Athletic Union championships , and was also instrumental in encouraging women ’ s rugby at Keele .
While club captain , Ellis helped to organise a charity rugby tournament , the ‘ Keele Invitation Sevens ,’ which involved 33 teams from across