Fred Baker Obituary by Pete Selby

Fred Baker recently passed way, at nearly 90 years old.  He represented Tonbridge AC, as did his son David.

From the 1950s to the 1980s Freddie was a regular and very good endurance race walker (he was pretty nifty over a 7 miles too )

He was a ‘Centurion’  ( a walker who has completed 100 miles in 24 hours )  No 266.

During this period he was a member of TAC at the time Tim Berrett  represented GB at international level ( Tim  emigrated to Canada to record some  superb performances,  including multi Commonwealth Games medals and appearances  in various Olympics and World Championships).

Freddie competed abroad in a variety of events including the classic Roubaix 28 hours race held each September……the finish town of  the famous Paris- Roubaix  cycle race, which took place in  in April and preliminary competition to  ” LeTour “. He would often achieve close to 200 kilometres.   I recall as an attendant, after about 20 hours, giving him a cup of tea ( just as dawn broke). He was his normal courteous self and still full of vigour and humour, which he retained until the end of the event. 

I will do a fuller obituary, but for those interested the funeral is on Monday 13th December at 12 15pm at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium.

Peter Selby