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Very sad day.

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burywoodturners:
We have enjoyed many a great demo with Mark, and he not only shared his woodturning skills but showed what a lovely man he was
Ron
Bury St Edmunds woodturning Club

BrianH:
I first met Mark Baker, very fleetingly, more years ago than either of us would care to admit to. Neither had the first inkling how our paths would progress and cross some years into the future.
More by luck and good fortune than planning or wise judgement I discovered an unexpected ability to string words together so I set out to convince the world I was now a journo. On my second or third 'Editor Safari' guess who I discovered was editing at Woodturning?
There followed a 15 year friendship, mostly, but not solely, restricted to the telephone. His way of doing business was always straight, open and transparent and we writers always knew exactly where we stood with him.
As I got to know him better I became aware that he was blessed with two internal switches, plus a tiny, well hidden, button, which it became my ambition to press whenever possible.
Mark's first switch was the professional one. Nothing was allowed to get in the way of business while we discussed my ideas and plans for upcoming articles, and his regular, knowledgeable and wise ideas and suggestions for their improvement (I took great delight on one occasion teasing him with the news that I always agreed with his ideas and listened to his requirements, always kept them uppermost in my mind while scribbling, but, strangely, they hardly ever seemed to find their way onto the paper!).
Once all the professional 'T's' were crossed and 'I's' dotted Mark's second switch was actuated and the joking, giggling and leg-pulling commenced. Those phone calls are about the only thing I still miss since retirement overtook me.
And what of that well hidden button, I hear you ask?
Well, just occasionally, Mark could be taken unawares by something comical and then he had the loudest, most uncontrolled guffaw imaginable. I only succeeded in pressing that button on a very few occasions but hey...that was success. I wonder if anyone reading this remembers that Loughboro seminar when Mark stopped a hundred conversations by laughing, doubled up for apparently no reason when all around him were deadly serious? It was just after a body had rudely pushed past him and possibly muttered something in his ear.
Many years ago I did a series of biogs of the leading woodyturners of the day and insisted the list wouldn't be complete unless I did one on Mark Baker, himself. It was agreed and I was welcomed into his workshop and home by his wife and two beautiful young daughters. I submitted the finished article and was most surprised to receive my fee by return, before it had a chance to go to print. When I asked why the change of procedure Mark thanked me and said he wasn't going to print the piece but wanted me to be paid before I found out so I couldn't refuse. Modesty had got the better of him but went hand in hand with his inability to be anything but scrupulously fair.
I enjoyed Mark's company for those 15 years and am truly glad he was a part of my professional life for so long. I now bitterly regret not keeping in touch with him after I put down my quill but now he is no more I am convinced the world is a poorer place for his passing.
Mark Baker, rest in peace old partner, you were truly one of the good guys!
Brian

Valkrider:
I have created a condolences book on the AWGB website if you would like to post your condolences there. At an appropriate time the contents will be passed on to Mark's family.

The url for the page is https://www.awgb.co.uk/mark-baker/

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