Appeal is made to find plaque that marked tragic death of Ashby doctor who died in attempted deep well rescue
An appeal has been made to try and find a commemorative plaque which marks one of the most tragic events ever to hit the people of Ashby.
Dr Mark Baker was the town's doctor, based in Market Street, when he died in a well after being called out to an incident in Ticknall.
On August 17, 1955, Dr Baker received an early morning call to go to Tadsar Farm where two men had got into difficulties in a deep well.
A petrol pump had been used to clean it the day before and there were fumes in the shaft.
Although they were not his patients, Dr Baker attended and, without considering his own safety, tied a rope around his waist and descended down the well to help the two men.
But they had died and he called on two ladies at the top of the well to pull on the rope.
However, it became stuck on some ironworks, and when firemen and an ambulance arrived, it was too late.
Dr Baker was confirmed dead at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary at the age of just 41.
An Ashby Times newspaper article from August 26, said that 'a tribute unparalleled' was paid by thousands of people when the funeral took place at St John's Methodist Church in Kilwardby Street.
The article says that the traffic was stopped and 'complete silence observed' as the cortege passed with people lining the route from his home at Huntingdon House - which is now occupied by the Elite Tuition Group.
Six hundred mourners filled the church for the service.
An inquest into the tragedy quoted one of the other men killed in the tragedy had said: 'By gum! You couldn't stay down there long, the fumes would kill you."
Apart from Dr Baker, the other men who lost their lives were, William Ward, 43, a bricklayer's labourer from Castle Gresley, who left a wife and a child, and Thomas Wileman, 65, of South Street in Ashby, who had gone into the well to try and save Mr Ward.
Subsequently, a new department at Ashby and District Hospital in Leicester Road became a memorial to Dr Baker, who had been a Medical Officer there.
Four years after the incident in Ticknall, the department and commemorative plaque were dedicated by the Bishop of Leicester.
However, the hospital is now occupied by David Granger Architects and the family do not know what happened to the plaque.
There have been suggestions that it was moved to the doctor's surgery on The Green - but that is no longer there.
Dr Baker, who was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal for bravery along with Thomas Wileman, had been due to go on holiday the following Saturday with his family.
He had come to Ashby 15 years previously and quickly established himself in the town, where he was popular with local patients.
Dr Baker was also a keen participant in motor rallies, as well as exhibiting model railways, actually building one in garden of his Market Street home.
He is buried in Ashby Cemetery and, at the funeral service, Dr Salmon, from Measham, said: "A total disregard for personal safety cost him his life.
"It has made a sharp impression, not only on colleagues and friends, but on the general public.
"His youthful nature, cheerful spirit and infectious chuckle helped over many an awkward situation, both at the bedside and dealing with his colleagues."
Dr Baker's daughter, Lindsay Entwistle, recently visited the house in Market Street where her father worked from.
She was in Ashby to lay flowers on her father's grave, but also to try and find the plaque.
But she also shared some memories of living at Huntington House.
Lindsay said: "My mother Ailsa would help him in the practice, run the house, tend the huge garden and look after for evacuees from Birmingham, who arrived to live with them about the same time.
"He became very involved with the cottage Hospital in Ashby.
"The children were born, Alistair, in 1945, and myself in 1948.
"My father worked tirelessly in the practice in a place that he loved, serving the community with skill and compassion. Many a meal was put over a pan of water to keep hot as he never delete a call.
"In his spare time, he was own his workshop in the attic, building model trains, or mending things.
"His locomotives ran on a track he made around the vegetable garden and would the delight us children with rides behind the steam train.
"The track even had a swing bridge so you could get to the compost heap.
"However, this was not to last.
"I was seven, but I remember to this day my mum telling us that daddy had died. Matron Spencer from the hospital was with us in the dining room.
"Life changed forever.
"Mum carried on to run the practice, but she took up anaesthetics and used to go to the Bretby Orthopaedic Hospital.
"In 1959, my father was awarded posthumously the Albert Medal. Mum and Alastair went to Buckingham Palace to receive it from the Duke of Gloucester.
"My father was remembered in 1957, as the new outpatients and theatre at the Cottage Hospital were dedicated to him by the Bishop of Leicester.
"Ashby District Council, raised money for a prize at Sheffield University for the best final year medical student, which is still being awarded today - The Mark Gregory Baker (Ashby de la Zouch) prize.
"Both my father and mother are buried in Ashby cemetery. They both loved Ashby and hoped that it would've been their home for many years."
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