August 2011 at Joanna and Peter’s wedding

Robert Alfred Baker was born on 3rd April 1939 to Alf and Joan Baker. Bob, as he became known, was their first son – Michael was to come along 7 years later. Alf and Joan lived in Northolt and stayed there throughout their married life and it was here Bob spent his childhood playing cricket and football in the street.

Brother Michael (left) and Bob at Fowey, Cornwall in 1953

Dad went to Ealing Grammar School and left there to work as a quantity surveyor. This was the start of a long working career which was to last 40 years.

His work life was interrupted by a short spell in the Army when he was called up for national service in 1958. He joined the Pay Corps because of his talent with figures. He was based in Larkhill, Wiltshire. I believe it was in the Army that Dad developed his preference for a smart appearance, neatly pressed trousers and ironed handkerchiefs!

Although later in life he was not particularly religious, at this time Dad attended Oldfield Baptist Church where he was a drummer in the Boys Brigade. It was here that he met and courted a girl named Ann Rabbitt. On 23rd September 1961 they married at the same church, it was the first wedding ceremony in the newly rebuilt church building.

Outside Greenford Baptist Church at the wedding, 1961

In 1960 he began working for Philips Lighting as a clerk. This was the start of a 37-year career with Philips. He moved to sales and had a number of roles, eventually becoming National Sales Manager. His job took him all over the country, including a trip I remember him taking me on when I was young in the Channel Islands – we flew in a small plane between the islands. As the leader of a successful sales team, Dad was also responsible for sales conferences, some of which involved travel to places such as Bali and Singapore. Mum went on some of the trips too, and they enjoyed them immensely. I remember him coming back with many photographs and stories of his adventures including one foreign trip when, as a surprise for a colleague they made a presentation which included a rented donkey! I think these were some of the happiest times for Dad. Despite his job taking over much of his week because of the long hours and travel from home to Croydon each day, he thrived on the hard work and developed many life-long friendships.

I arrived in 1969 and by then we were living in Eastcote. When I was young I have many happy memories of Dad. Like when I played double bass in a Saturday morning orchestra and he used to pick me up, but he always came early so he could listen to us play. Like helping me build my Airfix Concorde which I still have. Like our summer holidays in Cornwall and flying a kite on the beach – it always seemed to be sunny then!

In 1983 we moved to Ruislip to a house with a lovely garden. It was here that Dad developed his love of gardening which he had learnt from his parents. Dad and Mum tended to the garden for countless hours and it was this garden that was the venue for many celebrations over the years including Alf and Joan’s 50th wedding anniversary in 1987. Dad made a lovely speech, as he often did at social occasions. His sales role at work meant that he made many presentations and he had become known as a competent and entertaining speaker.

In 1997 he retired from Philips and turned his attention to other activities including cookery and golf which he enjoyed at Northwood Golf Club. He became captain of the Rabbits section.

Passing on his golf skills to another generation

He also joined the Ruislip & Northwood Rotary Club and was honoured to be asked to be President for a year in 2005-6. In his Presidential year he introduced and organised the Hillingdon Rotary Young Chef competition where secondary schools compete to produce the tastiest healthy meal.

Dad began helping an Abbeyfield sheltered home for the elderly and assisted them with a number of activities including a building project.

He also became involved with the 114 (Ruislip & Northwood) Squadron ATC (Air Training Corps) and for 6 years he was the Chairman of the Civilian Committee. His activities included fund raising, joining the squadron at parade nights, controlling finances and helping with publicity. I suspect this contact with the forces reminded him of his time in the national service. He seemed to really cherish being part of the ATC. During this time he was also encouraged to join the Middlesex Wing Executive Committee.

I married Miriam and in 2000 Dad became a grandfather for the first time. I remember handing our daughter Emily to Dad when she was just a few hours old. He had a look of love in his face and tears in his eyes. In 2002 Ben came along and became his second grandchild.

Dad and Ben, 2004

Dad loved playing bowls and football in the garden with the kids. And he was always the one on the floor with them playing with Lego at Christmas! Him and Mum took the children on day trips and loved having them to stay. Dad took great pride in their successes, whether at school or elsewhere.

Dad loved making people laugh…

…especially his grandchildren

Dad was also fond of dancing and enjoyed being a part of a local dancing club. Mum and him spent many happy hours floating around the dance floor doing a waltz, foxtrot or quickstep and was pleased to have once met Anton du Beke and Erin Boag.

In September 2011 Mum and Dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a lovely party attended by over 100 friends and relatives, many of whom were at their wedding 50 years earlier. Once again he delivered a heart-warming speech, after which Mum and Dad danced.

Delivering his speech at the 50th wedding anniversary party

Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010. At first there were no symptoms and he carried on just as before, putting everything in to life and getting lots out of it. He was looked after by a superb team at Mount Vernon Hospital. But gradually, as the cancer spread, he lost mobility and became more ill.

He realised the end was near and I made it known to him how thankful I was to him for everything he had done for me and others and how much I loved him. He told me he loved me too. He was cared for at home until the end by Mum who has been amazingly loving and caring to him for over 50 years.

Dad was a thoughtful, considerate, generous, loving, talented and kind man whose efforts touched many lives and organisations. He was full of joy and always quick witted. He was my rock and his relationship with my Mum was inspirational. I have a lifetime of treasured memories and I am so thankful to him.

Me and Dad at Dorney Lake for the Olympics, July 2012

I was very lucky to have him as my father.

Rest in peace Dad. x

Constructed and privately-owned by Eton College, it is managed by Dorney Lake Trust, the registered charity which operates the lake site.  Normally visitors can enter the site and wander round the rowing lake.  But it closed on 18 June 2012 to enable final London 2012 preparations to be completed.  (It will re-open after the games).  The photos show the preparations in progress.

We are lucky enough to have tickets for the rowing events and are looking forward to seeing some of the action!

The lake is 2000m long, here is the 250m mark

Temporary seating being put up near the finish line

We think this marks the finish line

At the top of this scaffolding is one of the enormous screens to relay the action to the spectators

Temporary seating on the south side of the lake….doesn’t look strong enough to hold all those people to me…..let’s hope I am wrong

The rear of some more seating (see how high the back row are?) and another screen

All the screens are towards the finish line, let’s hope some more are put up closer to the start which is where standing ticket holders will be

Power cables

A temporary stand, for TV cameras I believe

A temporary weather station

The main lake is on the left, on the right is the return lake which allows boats to return to the start line without using the main race area

One of the bridges over the links between the main and return lakes

The start area

Looking from the start down the 2km rowing lake

We are not sure what these markers at the start are, there is one pair for each of the 8 lanes. (EDIT: They are so the boats can line up and go off straight from the starting line, simple when you think about it! Thanks The Palmer Arms!)

This is an enormous high temporary tower at the start end – perhaps for aerial TV shots?  (EDIT: There is going to be another tower at the finish end, they are 93m high, they are for a fly-cam camera to track the action down the course – thanks Burnham Advertiser). In the foreground is the new perimeter fencing.

Outside Oldfield Baptist Church, their wedding was the first at this church after a re-build

The anniversary party was held at Northwood Golf Club and included welcome drinks, a sit-down meal, speeches from both myself and Dad, and some dancing - including some hilarious barn dancing.  We also had some of the original photos from their wedding on 23 September 1961 on display and a DVD of the wedding originally taken on cine film (it was quite unusual to have a cine film of a wedding at the time, it was made by an uncle of the bride).

I am delighted that a photo from the wedding was recreated 50 years (+ 1 day) after the original:

The bride and her bridesmaids - 1961...

...and 2011. Maureen, Brenda, Jean and Ann.

And – notice the little boy on the right in the photo at the top?  That’s Ian, the bride’s youngest brother.  In 1961 he was around 5 years old and, despite much persuasion by the whole of the bride’s family, he refused to wear a kilt to the wedding as a tribute to their Mum’s Scottish roots.  You can see him in a pair of trousers.

Fifty years on, Ian honoured the original wish and turned up to the Golden Wedding celebrations dressed in a kilt, in his words “finally doing what I was told!”  Great job, Ian!

Ann's brother Ian dressed as he was told to - at last!

Here’s a message from Mum and Dad:

On Saturday 24th September 2011, we had the greatest pleasure in welcoming over one hundred family members and friends to help us celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary.

We hope these pictures of the occasion, taken by son, Paul and brother, John will give you a sense of the joyful happiness there was that evening and what a privilege it was for us to receive so many messages of congratulations and best wishes.

With our sincerest grateful thanks.

Bob & Ann Baker

The happy couple!

The Photos

Here is a link to the photos taken at the event.

The Video

And a little flavour of the barn dance:

Guests – thank you so very much for coming and making this celebration
so special for Mum and Dad.  xx

Paul (a.k.a. maidbloke)

With thanks to John Rabbitt for providing many of the photos

I first caught up with David about a mile upstream from Boulter’s Lock. Here’s a video and some photos.

Alternative link to view the same video.

In the video:

We join David about a mile upstream from Boulter’s Lock, Maidenhead. We see him take a rest during which his wife Lara Stone speaks briefly to him. We then see him enter the lock cut where the crowds are much bigger. TV comedy star Miranda Hart and David’s wife Lara Stone are on a boat following him.

David swims in to Boulter’s Lock to much applause and climbs out. He visits the lock house for break and to speak to BBC Radio 1. He then returns to the water and swims under Maidenhead Bridge. David swims out of sight as his approaches Brunel’s Maidenhead railway bridge. He heads towards Bray and eventually London.

Part of David's support and TV crew

David swims towards Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead. Around 100 people walked with him from Cookham lock.

David takes a break before getting to Boulter's Lock

David's wife Lara Stone blows him a kiss from a support boat as TV comedian Miranda Hart looks on

David chats and shares a joke with his support team

Miranda Hart supports David's efforts as Lara Stone claps while he swims on towards Boulter's Lock

David powers on towards the lock at around 2 mph

Two support canoes are by his side at all times

David swims past Maidenhead weir

A large crowd gathers at Boulter's Lock to see him. He reached the lock at 11.25am.

David Walliams arrives at Boulter's Lock and, draped in a towel, goes in to the lock house for a short rest

The large crowd at Boulter's Lock awaits David's return from the lock house where he made a call to BBC Radio 1

More spectators await David along Ray Mead Road, downstream from the lock

Spectators line Maidenhead Bridge to catch a glimpse of David Walliams swimming towards Bray

I enjoyed being part of the crowd at Maidenhead as David passed through.  There were hundreds of people, all in very good spirits. He waved at the crowd and seemed to enjoy the support.

I also enjoyed live-tweeting the event. Although at some points I didn’t quite know what to do next. There are always too many things to do: take a still shot on my camera, take some video, send a tweet, respond to tweet replies, take a still shot on my phone, upload a photo from my phone to twitpic, find the next vantage point that is going to give good shots……or simply look up to avoid bumping in to people!

David’s swim is an amazing feat – I have no idea how he keeps going. You can sponsor him at the Sport Relief website.

There aren’t that many people who can photograph a WWII classic aircraft from a bedroom window.  Here’s a Spitfire roaring past, a visitor to the Retrofestival today.