In 2006 David came to one of our reunions for the first time, and continued to come every year until 2016, and so was at 11 of them. He would always arrive at the very start, and often would be the last person to leave. He would spend all his time talking to former-pupils, which reminded them how much they had appreciated him.
Four of them wanted to make a contribution to this article.They were Sue Hewitt, Melodi Palmer, Chris Cork and Stewart Slinn.Chris was a pupil in the Class of 63 (finishing the fifth form in 1963).Sue Hewitt from the Class of 73 (formerly Lane). Melodi Palmer from the Class of 72 (formerly Carter) and Stuart Slinn was from the Class of 66.Here is what they had to say.
Chris
David came late in my own time at Trinity and he never taught me music, a subject I never took once beyond infants school. But he was closely involved in school theatricals as was I and was instrumental in nurturing my own love of classical music – he took a party of us to see Walt Disney ‘Fantasia’ and I was well and truly hooked. Fantasia was a revelation to me across a spectrum of experiences and ideas and emotions and I sat next to David - ‘Doughy’ as we called him – on the bus home. Much to the horror of my mother I had recently discovered the – to me – delights of Bela Bartok and had got records from the library to feed my interest. I recall David saying something to the effect ‘Hmmmm...I don’t know many people that like Bartok’ and we got on like a house on fire after that.
I left Trinity a few months later by which time David was not exactly a friend, he was after all 8 years older than me and a teacher and teachers and students had a gulf between them in those days. So not a ‘friend’ but definitely something more than ‘just a teacher’ I said my goodbyes to him on my last day and never really expected to see him again. How wrong I was.
Years passed and I left Northampton, had a failed marriage assorted jobs and then there I was making a fresh start back in my childhood home. I knew nobody, was in a new job, lived in a small flat and was very much starting from scratch. And then I remembered where David had lived, his address, that I had once visited but could not remember why. On the off chance I walked out one evening not knowing if he was still where I remembered him to be, and there he was...Doughy Baker, in the flesh. And I guess if there was a point at which our friendship started and then lasted for many years, that was it.
He welcomed me in, I met his wife and children and within a few weeks became their regular babysitter. We saw one another regularly and began a series of debates that lasted decades about faith, religion in general and our own very different views. I was an atheist and had been since my early teens, well before I met David, David was a Christian, tho I don’t think I ever found out which denomination he belonged to, and we disagreed about a wide variety of things but in the nicest possible way.
Again the years passed to the point at which he moved into a large house next to the racecourse only a few doors away from the White Elephant. David was teetotal and I never knew him to have a drink, but he was jovial enough without. I helped him with the redecoration of the new house and we ticked along as we had for what were now decades of easy comfortable friendship. He had his crises...most particularly relating to his diabetes, and I recall his frustration indeed anger at his failure to pray it away. But he soldiered on, and then....
...I moved to Pakistan in March 1995. I recall visiting him before I left, once again unsure whether we would ever meet again. It was the only time in all the time we had known one another that we had a slightly awkward hug.
Then I was gone, initially for two years then five and I was deep in the world of aid and development work. Happily remarried I was rarely in UK until my wife got a place at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston to study tourism and leisure management and in Preston we settled.
David was in an ever-lengthening past, I was a very rare visitor to Northampton and after the deaths of my parents I had no reason to return. We lost touch as happens – David is not the only shadow on my horizon – and I knew little of his later life or his descent into the illness that so disables him now. I never really knew his children as adults and only fleetingly knew his second wife.
Today I am back in Pakistan and Ian Dow asked me to write a few words of appreciation of my old friend. I remember him as warm, witty, the possessor of a fund of the worst jokes known to mankind, they truly were awful, and with a generosity of hand and spirit that was a comfort to me on more than one occasion. Only eight years separate us and given my own advancing disability I am unlikely ever to see him again – and he would not recognise me if he did. So hands across the sea David, hands across the sea and travel safe wherever you go, you are fondly remembered.
Sue
I chose Music as an 'O' level subject 1970-73. I was the only student in my year that chose music. Needless to say, I received 100% in my music exams! There were very few in the other years too. That meant that I had 1:1 tuition from Mr David Baker for 3 years! He was a wonderful, patient, dedicated and extremely talented teacher. He played cello and piano and encouraged me to play the piano in assemblies and speech days on several occasions. He also encouraged me to learn the violin, but I wasn't very successful. He took me to the Quaker house in town for regular singing lessons as well. He also introduced me to Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and I appeared in 4 of the productions, either in the chorus or in a supporting role.
I have fond memories of David taking some of us 'O' and 'A' level students, in his car after school, to the Proms at Royal Albert Hall. We would get changed at school and stop at a service station for a bite to eat. We never had tickets, just going to join the queue to get in. He also took us to see 'Orpheus in the Underworld' at the Royal Opera House. The ‘can-can’ I remember fondly!
David was always bemused by my love of Tamla Motown but forgave me as I played 'Bridge over trouble water' well on the piano!
I will never forget his kindness and generosity.
Melodi
David Baker was one of my favourite teachers at Trinity.Memories of him include him eating digestive biscuits during
lessons as he was diabetic.
I was in the school choir which performed Faure’s Requiem as well as
appearing in 2 G & S productions (The Yeoman of the Guard and Ruddigore).
Together with one of my peers (Anne Holden), the 3 of us (David, Anne
and I) performed musical medleys at several garden fetes. David and Anne
played guitar with Anne and myself doing the vocals, with the occasional
interjection from David.
I still enjoy singing now, and I am sure that this is, in part, due to
David’s influence as well as that of my musical family.”
Stewart
During music David convinced me and gave me the encouragement to play the part as the Sergeant of Police in the school production of the 'Pirates of Penzance' in 1966.He was a great teacher and musician
Below is a photo of me playing the part at the front with Mr Wilson (teacher) on the far left he played the Major General.
The line of 'Constables' behind me as far as I remember from R to L
Phil Gossage, Trevor Crane, Martin Verity,?, Alan West, ?, ...Fowler, ?, ?, ?
Unfortunately, you can only see the baton David Baker was using to conduct the orchestra
Gary Grimshaw played the 'Pirate King' with Mr 'Nobby Clark playing Samuel (one of the pirates) another teacher Stephen Meakins played 'Frederick' with Barbara Crawley and Lesley Griffiths playing the leading ladies roles.
David was a very-well-liked teacher, who is remembered by many.At the time of writing this (January 2022) he is sadly in a care home and suffering from dementia.His is being well looked after.