Richard Baker OBE RD
Born in Willesden in 1925, Richard Baker attended Kilburn Grammar School and later gained a place at Peterhouse, Cambridge to study history and modern languages.
He joined the BBC in 1950 as a radio presenter, where his assured presence and smooth delivery saw him become the first announcer to introduce a news bulletin on BBC television; up to then it had used just newsreel films.
Richard Baker and Brent Youth Orchestra -Courtesy: Brent Council
Richard Baker BBC Radio broadcast - 1992- Courtesy: BBC (Click Here - view BBC TV broadcast 1981)
He won broadcaster of the year three times throughout the 1970s. Leaving news broadcasting in 1982 he presented various classical music shows across the BBC and Classical FM. He narrated the popular children’s TV show Mary, Mungo & Midge in 1969 and appeared as a special guest in three episodes of the classic comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
He was appointed OBE in 1976 for services to broadcasting and lived into his ninties, passing away at the age of 93 in 2018.
Richard Baker opens Argos, Wembley, 15th August 1977 - Courtesy: Brent Council