Richard Douglas James Baker OBE RD

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jbryce1437
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Richard Douglas James Baker OBE RD

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

The broadcaster, Richard Baker, passed away today, 17th November 2018, at the age of 93.
He was born in Willesden, north London, on 15 June 1925, the son of a plasterer. His father was a keen amateur singer who encouraged his son to take up the piano.
His undergraduate years were interrupted by war service in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II. He served as a Sub Lieutenant on the sloop HMS Peacock which was engaged in protecting the Allied Arctic supply convoys to the USSR. He was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve decoration. In May 2015 he was awarded the Ushakov Medal for his service in the Arctic convoys of World War II.
He whiled away the time by reading Tolstoy's War and Peace, as well as collating information about his then admiral, Sir Gilbert Stephenson, which formed the basis for a biography Baker later published on this pioneer of anti-submarine warfare.
The war over, he returned to his studies at Cambridge, where he became an enthusiastic member of the Marlowe drama society.
On graduation he began acting in various repertory companies and secured a short attachment as an English teacher in a London grammar school.
After the war he entered broadcasting and worked as announcer on The Third Programme. He was the first newscaster to read a news bulletin on BBC Television in July 1954.
Baker's high profile led to three guest appearances on Monty Python's Flying Circus and, in 1977, he joined other BBC presenters to take part in a performance of the song, There is Nothing Like a Dame on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show.
In 1982, he decided to leave the TV news desk but his voice continued to be heard on BBC radio where he presented, among other programmes; Start the Week, These You Have Loved and Your Hundred Best Tunes.
For many years he fronted the Last Night of the Proms from the Royal Albert Hall, resplendent on a balcony festooned with streamers.

RIP Sir
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
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ivorthediver
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Re: Richard Douglas James Baker OBE RD

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Part of the old school and the core of being "English " he will be sadly missed by us all I'm sure .
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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limeybiker
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Re: Richard Douglas James Baker OBE RD

Unread post by limeybiker »

Thanks for posting that Jim, I met Richard Baker several times onboard HMS President, sold him his first wooly pully when they came out, he was also a colleague at the BBC.
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