Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways were saddened to hear of the death of Mike Baker on 12th March 2020, at the age of just 58, after a long battle with ill health.
Mike was a passionate campaigner and contributed some brilliant illustrations for FoSBR to use at events and in publications. We remember him as a lovely and talented man.
Mike is well known in Bristol for his striking 3D memorial plaques, which are beautiful artworks full of historical detail. He worked with Bristol Radical History Group to design the plaque to abolitionist Thomas Clarkson which stands outside the Seven Stars pub.
He will also be remembered for the work he did with Living Easton on the Easton Time Signs Trail to memorialise ordinary heroes at sites of historical, social, or industrial importance. He was the researcher, designer and creator of all these amazing plaques. The plaque on Platform 1 at Stapleton Road Station depicts a locomotive bearing the headboard of ‘The Bristolian’ train.
FoSBR friend Ian Beckey said:
“His loss is going to be keenly felt by those who knew him from the worlds of both local history and archaeology. The local artistic scene is so much poorer without him and he will be greatly missed by us all.”