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Deeply committed to re-aforestation as a way to counteract some of our environmental problems, he soon became friends with Presidents and Kings alike, travelling extensively around the world to promote the increased planting of trees. He will be remembered for his contribution to saving the Pacific Redwoods/Giant Sequoia's of Northern California with help from the likes of John Muir and President Roosevelt. In 1944 his father John died and in 1946 Richard married his secretary Doreen Long, having two children, a daughter Angela and son Paul. His campaign to counter the advance of desert's culminated in the 1952 expedition to Nairobi via the Sahara. He frequently carried acorns and fruit stones in his pockets and would plant them whenever the opportunity permitted.
In 1959 Richard sold "The Firs" and left for New Zealand to settle travelling via Moscow and Delhi. In 1965 the Free Church Mission Hall in Beacon Road was sold to the Baptist Union. Richard was a prolific writer, being credited with some 30 books and although most are now out of print, they can be sought out second-hand and make interesting reading, particularly "My Life My Trees" published in 1970 and reprinted many times.
Richard died peacefully at the age of 92 in 1982 in Saskatoon, just prior to giving a lecture at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada and is buried there.
To quote Geoff Poulton's memories of Richard:

"Richard St. Barbe Baker

Evangelist, missionary, writer, raconteur, entrepreneur, generous, visionary, single minded, boundless energy, member of the Bahai' faith, excellent networker, inspirational, abstemious, excellent recall, Vegan."

NOTE: For those visiting our Museum & Heritage Centre in West End, we have on display several items connected with Richard St. Barbe Baker as well as a file devoted to him--well worth the reading. He was one of the founders of the environmental movement. Here in West End Richard is remembered with a road named in his honour "Barbe Baker Avenue" as well as more recently a bronze plaque sculpted by Jill Tweed surmounting a plinth on the corner of Chapel Road and High Street unveiled on Friday 28th March 2003.     Ed.

RICHARD MARRYING DOREEN LONG IN 1946

RICHARD WITH HIS MOTHER CHARLOTTE