Raymond Baxter

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Raymond Baxter

Raymond Baxter, OBE, FRSA (25 January 1922 – 15 September 2006), was a British television presenter and writer, best known for being the first presenter of Tomorrow's World (1965–77).

1 Life
2 Other activities
3 Trivia
4 Books
5 External links

[edit] Life

Baxter was educated at Ilford County High School. He served in the Royal Air Force in World War II flying Spitfires with 93 Squadron over Sicily in 1943 and later as a Flight Commander with No. 602 Squadron in North West Europe. On 18 March 1945, he took part in a daring daylight raid on the Shell-Mex building in The Hague, which was the HQ for V1 and V2 attacks. The commander, Max Sutherland, received a bar to his DFC and the other four pilots, including Baxter, were mentioned in dispatches.

After the war Baxter flew P-51 Mustang and Douglas Dakota aircraft for a year, then worked in Forces Broadcasting from 1945 to 1949. He then worked for the BBC from 1950, including radio commentary on the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill and King George VI (the latter commentary given while suspended from the ceiling of Westminster Abbey). He also reported at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. [1]

An accomplished rally driver, Baxter competed on the Monte Carlo Rally 12 times, 6 of which as a member of the famous BMC Works Team. He also competed on numerous Alpine, Tulip and RAC Rallies, notably satirised in the character Roland Thraxter in Peter Ustinov's Grand Prix du Rock. Baxter was frequently a commentator on motoring and aviation events, including at least 20 Formula 1 races, the Le Mans 24 hour race, and the Monte Carlo rally. To parody this, he was invited onto I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue to commentate on sessions of Mornington Crescent. He was briefly Director of Motoring Publicity, British Motor Corporation, 1967–68, whilst still presenting for the BBC; but when it was decided not to continue with Baxter in this post following BMC's takeover by Leyland, he returned to work full time for the BBC. He is also remembered as a frequent presenter of TV coverage from Air Show events for the BBC. Baxter is also known for reporting on the first flight of Concorde and being the first reporter to broadcast from an aeroplane, ocean liner and underwater.

His death was announced on 15 September 2006, after he died at the age of 84 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, close to his home in Henley-on-Thames. In a statement his family said: "He had a love of innovation and challenge both professionally and personally."

[edit] Other activities

Raymond Baxter was a member of the Committee of Management of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, 1979–97 (Vice-President, 1987–97; Life Vice-President since 1997).

He had been the Honorary Admiral of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships from 1982 and Honorary Chairman of the Royal Aeronautical Society from 1991. He was on the Council of the Air League, 1980–85.

He was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of London in 1978 and awarded the OBE in 2003.

[edit] Trivia

Baxter was the uncle of the American minimalist artist Carl Andre.
In an interview about his wartime career, he described flying over a V-2 rocket site during a launch, and his wingman firing on the missile: "I dread to think what would have happened if he'd hit the thing!"