Elizabeth Jane Baker (28 Mar 1951 - 17 Nov 2022)

In loving memory of Elizabeth Jane Baker who sadly passed away on 17th November 2022.

Elizabeth was born on Wednesday 28 March 1951 at Hillside, Killhaughey Road in Donaghadee, Co Down, Northern Ireland. Two years later her brother Tom was born. Liz and Tom attended Donaghadee School, but later when their father Thomas joined the RAF, they began a nomadic life around RAF stations at Swinderby in Lincolnshire, followed by Germany (where younger brother Paul was born) and finally to Lyneham in Wiltshire where youngest brother Brian was born (actually born at Wroughton). The family later moved to Chippenham, where Liz attended Hardenhuish School, and when they decided to move back to Donaghadee, Elizabeth stayed in Chippenham.

From 1966 to 1972 she worked as a Tracer in the Drawing Office at Westinghouse Brake & Signal Company, Old Road, Chippenham. She married in 1970 in Kington Langley, Wiltshire and in 1972 gave birth to Jacqueline Elizabeth at Greenways Maternity Home, Chippenham. In 1976 she gave birth to James Edward at Royal United Hospital, Bath, Somerset.

In 1981 Liz became a Nursing Assistant at Roundway Hospital in Devizes and from 1983 to 1986 she trained to become a Registered Mental Nurse (RMN), qualifying in March 1986 having been awarded the Top Psychiatric Student Nurse Prize.

On 22nd September 1984 Liz married Jon Baker in Chippenham and in 1993 Ellen Jayne Shannon Baker was born at Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon. In 1998 her first grandson Chandler was born.

From 1986 to 1987 Liz was a Staff Nurse on Cedar Ward, Roundway before moving to be a Sister in the Community Psychiatric Nursing service in Swindon.

On the 8th October 1999 the family moved across town from Falcon Road to Springfield Drive, Calne.

On 21 Sep 2000 Elizabeth was awarded a BSc (Hons) in Community Health Care Nursing (Community Mental Health Nursing) at the University of the West of England (UWE).

Subsequently, she was a Sister and then until her retirement Nurse Manager in Chippenham and then Trowbridge.

In 2002 her second Grandson, Theo was born and in 2006 her third Grandson, Thomas arrived.

In 2013 Liz was first diagnosed with bowel cancer, and although she was free of the disease for nearly five years it subsequently returned and she has been treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the last 4 years. The care she received from the oncology department in GWH, Swindon was top class but eventually, she succumbed peacefully at home last week.

In 2014 we were proud to attend Ellen's graduation at Solent University where she was awarded a BA (Hons) in Multi Media Journalism.

Liz was always a very active person, battling against disability most of her adult life (Crohn's Disease) but she tried to live life to the full and never let her health issues get in the way. Over the years she enjoyed horse riding, Morris Dancing and aerobics and latterly she enjoyed walking and holidaying in our camper van (the Gin Palace) and took great interest in cookery, wild birds and gardening at her allotment. She also enjoyed Grand Prix motor racing, and with me has attended races at Silverstone, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, Barcelona and Monza.

Liz loved travelling and over the years we have holidayed in Australia, Hungary, Austria, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, Florida, Dubai, Mauritius and most recently in Switzerland and Italy where we visited Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Rome and Milan.

Five years ago Liz was keen to have a dog, and subsequently Button (or Travella Super Striker to give him his full name) the Wire Haired Fox Terrier has become an integral part of our lives.