Beautiful wood!
I have just bought two English Walnut tenor sets, albeit somewhat less stunning, and would be grateful for any tips on side bending you may be able to offer. I have just had to scrap a set of American Black Walnut guitar sides after the upper bout bends developed bad crush folds (if that description makes sense) on the inside. However, that was using a bending machine, where the results are not visible until it is too late!
I bend my tenor ukulele sides on a bending iron, and whilst I have had no problems with the English Cherry and Tasmanian Blackwood I have used to date, English Walnut is a new venture.