The passing of a Deltic legend.

The board was most sad to hear of the passing of Vice President Michael S Baker on Friday October 10. His knowledge of Napier power units was nothing short of extraordinary and he came to the ‘rescue’ of the DPS engineering volunteers on countless occasions.

Mike lived at Colchester and for many years worked for Paxman Diesels who undertook Napier power unit repairs for both BR and the Admiralty.

He became closely involved with the DPS as long ago as the Autumn 1981 in the final months of the BR Deltic era. It was obvious he would be an unbelievable asset to what was then an enthusiastic, but somewhat naive group of would-be preservationists.

Mike served Napier applications in the middle east after the war as both India and Burma had vessels propelled by Napier technology. These were of the 18-cylinder naval variety.

He was also involved with maintaining the equipment for the Diplomatic Wireless Service.

Over many years, this senior engineer helped out on so many occasions, one such being during a trip to the Mid Hants Railway where, he managed to start one of the DPS machines which had a run-down battery with one of this ‘tricks’, the start-up having defeated the volunteers.

He really came to the fore when the engineers started to strip Napier power units – in the formative years of the society, the Napiers were not touched, nor was there any reason to do so. Mike Baker was of enormous help when a quill shaft was replaced on Power unit 538 when in the workshops at Castle Donnington power station to which the DPS had been granted access. This was the first notable engine repair. Since then his expertise has been put to good use and so appreciated on many occasions.

This engineer had a remarkable library of manuals and documents. Simply, he was always the ‘go to’ person when any problem manifested itself, the ultimate authority in all things Napier.

He invariably attended the DPS Annual General Meetings, with son Stephen, when there would always be a queue wishing to talk to him. This continued until recently when the distance and health considerations intervened.

It’s fair to state that because of Mike Baker, the DPS has all three Deltics in operational order some 64 years after being built. No problem was too great for him to solve and advise.

The board pass on their sincere condolences to his family, his good lady Kate, and son Stephen for their – and our – loss, a remarkable, highly respected engineer who will be long remembered.