to join the American Enterprise Institute and at least some aspects of monetarist policies were publicly repudiated by Thatcher in 1985. He did, however, return to advise Thatcher in 1989, but his differences with the policies of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nigel Lawson, led to the resignation of both men on 26 October 1989. Walters supported the controversial and ill-fated Community Charge (referred to as the "poll tax"). He opposed the similarly ill-fated policy of entry into the European Monetary System. In 1997, he stood as the Referendum Party candidate for the safe Conservative seat of the Cities of London and Westminster achieving 3% of the vote. Personal life In 1975, Walters married Margaret Patricia Wilson, known as Paddie. He had a daughter by a previous marriage. He was knighted in the Queen's 1983 Birthday Honours List. He was an accomplished pianist, enjoying playing the works of Chopin and Beethoven. He also collected Thai porcelain and was a keen tennis player. Walters was vice-chairman and Director of AIG Trading Group, Inc. Towards the end of his life, he suffered from Parkinson's disease. He died aged 82 at his home on 3 January 2009 after a short illness. Upon hearing of his death, Thatcher described him as "radical, fearless" and the "finest of friends". Coincidentally he died on the same day that the first "Genesis" block of the cryptocurrency and decentralized payment system Bitcoin was established. References External links The Papers of Sir Alan Walters held at Churchill Archives Centre 1926 births 2009 deaths British economists Monetary economists Alumni of University of London Worldwide Alumni of the University of London Academics of the London School of Economics Academics of the University of Birmingham Alumni of Nuffield College, Oxford Alumni of the University of Leicester Johns Hopkins University faculty Knights Bachelor People educated at Alderman Newton's School, Leicester Referendum Party politicians Fellows of the Econometric Society British Army personnel of World War II British Army soldiers