| A RECRUIT IN CATERHAM BARRACKS |
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| MY LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE REGIMENT |
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| Rodney (Spot)Angell Baker |
| 2741341 1945-1960 |
| Update 4th October |
| Click on pics for larger image |
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| Boy Rodney Baker, Welsh Guards. 2nd Guards Training Bn, Pirbright, 1946. |
| Drum Major Spot Baker trying his New Cross belt on with State Dress, assisted by his Batman L/Cpl Ron ('Cas') Bragg. 1st Bn Chelsea Barracks 1958. |
| L/Cpl Rodney Baker. 'In Waiting' 1st Bn Drums, Prinn barracks, Tripoli, 1949. |
| Sgt Rodney (Spot) Baker in Blue PATROLS (NOT No 1 Dress) for 1st Bn Sgts' Mess Coronation Ball at The Westminster Drill Hall, June 1953. |
| Drum Major Spot Baker, 1st Bn Chelsea Barracks, 1958. |
| Corps of Drums, 1st Bn Prinn Barracks, Tripoli, 1949 Back Row (from left):- Drmrs Price, Whitham,Sammons,Ash,Beech, Whitfield,Barrett, Barnett. Centre Row:-Drmrs Coe,Robertson,Wood,Horne,Hetherington,L/Cpl Smith, Drms Blair,Holden,L/Cpl Franks, Drms Tomlinson,Savage. Front Row:- L/Cpls Mountford,Baker,Sgt Tilbury,Lt Col CMF ('Boy') Deakin, Capt & Adjt MS Bayley, D/Major Petersen,L/Sgt Cornall,L/Cpl Duffin,Drm Jeffs. |
| Corps of Drums 1st Bn at Chelsea Barracks, April 1959. |
| Warrant Officers 1st Bn Grenadier Guards, at Chelsea Barracks, April 1959. |
| In April 1958 I was preparing for my forthcoming appointment as Drum Major with the 1st Bn stationed at Chelsea. As 'D/Major Designate' I had been fitted for and received my Drum Major's tunic, and was being groomed for the new post by two gentlemen to whom I always would harbour a debt of gratitude. The smartest Drummy in the Household Brigade at that time (in my opinion) was my old chum Drum Major'Bud' Moon 1st Bn Scots Guards, and I was fortunate in having him to coach me in staff drill etc.and eventually after a few sessions he decided that I was fit enough to appear on parade as a Guards Drum Major, and handle a staff without tripping over the darned thing! I was also blessed with a week of instruction from the Garrison Sgt Major 'Micky' Stone, Irish Guards, himself a former Drum Major and a mine of information on Ceremonial Procedures - if Micky didn't know it, then it wasn't in the book! It was decided that as we had a huge strength in the Corps of Drums, I should ' get my feet wet' by taking a small Corps out and about on minor duties in the London District pending my appointment. However, Drum Major 'Zombie' Collins was still in post and using the D/M's Cross Belt himself, so I had to content myself with what I stood up in. I thought I had managed to get away with this glaring deficiency in my dress, but years later in 1987(!), WH Smith published a calendar in the 'Colourful London' series - there on the front cover (Photograph above) was yours truly strutting along in front of my scratch Corps, way back in 1958. Sure enough, it was spotted by my old buddy Morris 'Dusty' Smith (wonderful piccolo player and pianist by the way) who promptly sent me a copy asking "Why no Crossbelt Spot?" I started receiving letters from other eagle-eyed Drummers all over the country posing the same question. Like a defective postage stamp, I suppose this photograph is a collectors item now? Peruse it and enjoy!! |
| Drum Major Spot Baker, |
| Click on pics for larger image |
| L/Cpl Rodney Baker, 1st Bn, Gialo Barracks tripoli 1948 |
| Gentlemen Drummers out on a spree" Drummers Rodney Baker (left) and Ron Beech 1st Bn Grenadier Guards. In Uxbridge for a day (looking out for pretty WAAFS!). |
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| Corps of Drums in Tripoli 1948 |
| Corps of Drums 1st Btn Victoria Barracks 1952 in period uniform for a floodlight tattoo |
| Top Row left to right: Les Haynes, Wally Whitham, Ron Beech, Ray Newsome, Snotty Barrett, Jack Savage. Centre Row: Gordon Robertson, Jasper Horn, Digger Hetherington, Brian Wheeler, Roy Cox, Ben Mountford, Timber Wood. Front Row: George Duffin, Drummy Petersen, Capt & Adjt I M Erskine, Sgt Major Les Burrell, Tom Cornall, Spot Baker. |
| L/Sgt Spot Baker 1st Btn Victoria Barracks, Windsor 1952 stood by the fountain in its original location. |
| Sgt Spot Baker 1st Btn tinkling the ivories at a function in the Sgts Mess at HQ 4th Guards Brigade Llanelli Barracks, Hubbelrath BAOR 1956. |
| Enjoying an evening in the Sgts Mess, 1st Btn Gort Barracks, Hubbelrath 1957. From left; Mrs Jo Furneaux, CSM Alan Furneaux, Sgt Colin Lamb, Sgt Dennis Halsey, Sgt Spot Baker. |
| Spot Baker with his wife Barbara at the Drummers' Reunion in the Grenadier Club, Windsor, September 2004. Spike Harvey in the background. |
| MY LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE REGIMENT |
| MY LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE REGIMENT |
 |
 |
 |
| MY LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE REGIMENT |
|
| A RECRUIT IN CATERHAM BARRACKS |
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