Continued from page 3

family and founded Bakers West End Nurseries , instilling the love and care of trees in his son Richard who was born in 1889.
Sheila Petty met Richard, "St. Barbe", many years ago, in the church graveyard itself and helped him to tidy up and clean his grand-parents' grave. He also wrote to Mrs G.Haines in 1972 asking if she knew of anyone who would "be glad of doing up my grand-parents' grave", but whether she was successful or not, I don't know.
The Baker Family Bible, some of Richards' books and correspondence can be seen in our Society's museum.

"The Firs", Barbe Bakers home in Beacon Road, West End 1994

THE St.BARBE BAKER FAMILY AT "THE FIRS"
BEACON ROAD, WEST END


John and Charlotte St.Barbe Baker seated with their
family, Richard St.Barbe Baker is standing centre back
at the side of one of the servants.

JOHN St.BARBE BAKER

CHARLOTTE St.BARBE BAKER

SOME ARBOREAL RAMBLINGS
Peter Andrews

Calling in at the West End Museum, as is my want, I like to check up that the staff is alert and not having a quiet nap, also there may be  a chance of a cup of tea. Bad timing on my part as it was a change of shifts, so I was leaving tea-less when I was asked, did I know what the tree is on the lawn? (at the Museum)
This is rather a handsome specimen with unusual shaped leaves and colour, lets hope it doesn't face the same fate as its partner which died because of careless strimming. At least I knew for certain it was a wooden one!! So I borrowed a small clump of leaves, I promise to bring them back, to check up in my book on the subject.
Here I'll quote extensively, it turned out to be a MEDLAR, the only thing I knew about it was the fruit had to be eaten half rotten! For centuries the fruit was considered a delicacy and consumed by the Greeks and Romans and dedicated to the god Saturn. Herbalists believed it cured a variety of ailments, it cannot be eaten raw until it's been "bletted", that is, allowed to become over-ripe to the point where the fruit softens and starts to rot.

Continued on page 5