With grateful thanks to Graham Plumb, son of the late Bill Plumb, for permission to use scrapbook images entrusted to his father by Walter Cornelius, and for helping to preserve this important part of Peterborough’s story.

Peterborough has always been shaped by people on the move. From prehistoric journeys across wetlands and rivers, to generations arriving for work, safety and opportunity, the city’s story is one of movement, arrival and belonging. Walter Cornelius stands within that long tradition.

A Latvian migrant who fled Europe in the 1940s, Walter arrived in Peterborough seeking refuge and a future. He made the city his home, and over time became part of its identity. Known simply as “everybody’s Walter”, he was a familiar and much-loved figure whose life became woven into the everyday fabric of the city.

Walter was renowned for extraordinary feats of strength and endurance. He broke world records, amazed crowds with physical challenges, and appeared on national television, including Blue Peter in the 1960s. Alongside this public profile, he lived a deeply civic life. As a lifeguard at Peterborough Lido, he taught generations of local children to swim, quietly shaping lives as well as memories. He was not distant or untouchable. He was present, known and trusted.

He became the “Birdman of Peterborough” after attempting to fly across the River Nene using a pair of handmade wings. The attempt did not succeed, but it became his most enduring moment. Walter imagined something bold, prepared for it, and stepped forward with conviction. That willingness to act, to turn imagination into motion, is what gives the story its lasting power.

Walter Cornelius offers a powerful symbol for Peterborough’s City of Culture journey. His life reflects the city itself, shaped by migration, built through effort, and driven by aspiration. Set against a river defined by movement and connection, his attempted flight speaks to a place formed by people who arrive with hope, contribute to civic life, and dare to imagine new futures.

Walter’s legacy reminds us that ambition begins before the leap, in the decision to try. In Peterborough, that spirit continues to shape who we are and who we are becoming.

Our flight begins on the ground.