The Old Guy goes jogging – to the memorial to a much respected physician.
Coventry Society member Peter Hunter continues his series of articles inspired by places around Coventry that he visits as he jogs around town. Peter writes….
This month, my run takes me yet again to a cemetery, this time, Windmill Road in the north of the city. As I’ve said before, I love a good cemetery, the quiet, the peace and always some fascinating stories behind the gravestones and memorials. Honestly there are lots of other places that I run to, but the cemeteries always provide something of interest.
This month, the story focusses on one memorial stone at Windmill Road, and a fairly recent one at that. It is the memorial stone to Dr Tom Baird and his wife Jean. I’m sure there are family members still living in Coventry, so I hope they’ll bear with me in writing about the memorial and giving me the opportunity to remember Dr. Baird.
I do enjoy reading inscriptions on gravestones, however many recent memorials tend to be rather sentimental and don’t provide any idea of the real person being commemorated. This one is an exception – I love the understated simplicity of the memorial to Dr Baird – “A Much Respected Physician”.
Dr. Baird was a GP in the north of the city for many years in the later part of the 20th century. He was mine and my family’s GP. As the memorial states he was much respected locally and many people in the north of the city including myself have fond memories of him. He was more than “just a GP”, he was also active in the local community and was a pillar of the Foleshill Road United Reform Church. For me, he was the epitome of a caring, community focused GP.
Dr. Baird was also a football man and was I believe club doctor at Coventry City FC during much of the period when they were in the 1st division. When I’ve watched videos of Coventry City’s great 1987 cup final victory, Dr. Baird is on the bench at Wembley Stadium a couple of seats away from John Sillett and George Curtis.
One particular memory that stands out re his role as club doctor and GP, relates to a day in the late 70’s, early 80’s when I was waiting at Bell Green Health Centre for an appointment with Dr. Baird. Whilst I was waiting, in walked Coventry City’s star striker, Mark Hately, soon to be playing for England and later having spells with AC Milan and Monaco. Typical of Dr. Baird’s down to earth style, Hately was asked to wait his turn in the crowded waiting room to see the doctor alongside me and numerous folk from Bell Green.
For me, and for many others with whom he came into contact, the memorial stone says it all, “A Much Respected Physician”.