Jim Baker

When Marcel relayed Chris's message to me suggesting that we all put together an account of our activities over the years, I not only realised with horror how many years had passed but wondered how do I do this without appearing to moan about my failures or brag about my feeble achievements. I hope you will forgive me if I do either.

Firstly it is important to point out that although College days were quite enjoyable and certainly rewarding, home life at that time definitely was not. An isolated existence on a farm with little or no contact with school friends out of hours meant simply that School was an escape from chores. Obviously, having a good laugh was more important than studying and I apologise for the distractions it must have caused all of you at times.

Anyway, my third year was spent at Bude Grammar because the family moved to Whitstone and at age 14 I joined The Royal Marines as a trainee musician. (Then I stopped laughing!) Unfortunately a long term knee injury led to my discharge after only a few months.

The next few years were spent moving about living and working in Yorkshire, Sussex, and then to Suffolk where my adopted father had moved to when he split from the family in Cornwall. I soon met up with my first partner with whom I spent several stormy years and we brought up two sons. We inevitably split and I moved on, working in civil engineering specialising in major pipelines and tunnel construction jobs in East Anglia.

My next long term partner had children already, which at the time seemed a good arrangement for both of us. She had enough children already and I wanted to feel less locked in out of loyalty to my own boys.

Eventually life took a different turn in 1980 when I met Kay and her young daughter Emma. We were both at a "crossroads" in life and we just knew we had a future together. Also Kay was adventurous enough to come with me back to Cornwall which we did in May 81.

We had another daughter Jill who followed Emma through this same College and she now attends Plymouth Art College.

In 1982 I started in business installing various resin wall and floor systems in the west country firstly through another company and later forming and running my own.

Hobbies have been Motor Sport in various forms competing and helping, fishing and other country sports, and a few fitness pursuits.

Achievements - having the good fortune to meet such a loving and supportive partner in Kay even to the point of completing seven London Marathons and probably a hundred or more half marathons between us (and she still had time to be a wife, a mother and a secretary).