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Donald Wallace Baxter 1931-1973
Don was a few years older then me, we were both born in Richmond Surrey. My first recollection was him walking me to Kew Gardens where we fed the birds which were very tame and they would feed from our hands.Kew Gardens was a traditional day out, the cost to get in was one old penny.
In Kew Garden's stands a Chinese Pagoda, at one time people could go to the top, ut someone fell to their death and as far as I know it always remained closed to the public. Not far from the Pagoda is a refreshment pavilion. The original building was apparently burned down in 1913 by suffrogettes. A new pavilion was built in 1915.
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Don rode a cycle then later a motor bike. He would also go fishing with Dad along the Thames.At one time he had 50 bugerigars he kept and bred in the back garden,and often he won lst or 2nd place in bird shows.
He trained as an engineer in for G.H.Gledhill & Sons Ltd in Time clocks and Cash registers and worked in Victoria Street, London for several years.I also worked for this company for four years.
His hobby was photography and woodwork and he was a very good piano player. He died of cancer in 1973 not long after he moved to Leicestshire.
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Saint Anne's Church in Kew Green,is where Don married Sheila Coles in 1957.I was bridesmaid and I wore a pale blue dress. Don gave me a pearl necklace as a present which I still have.
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I light a candle just for you
and think of times when we walked to Kew,
as the flame burns so very bright
So your spirit shines come day or night.
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The following poem was written by English Poet- Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
The Selfsame Song
A bird sings the selfsame song,
with never a fault in its flow,
That we listened to here those long
long years ago.
A pleasing marvel is how
a strain of such rapturous rote
should have gone on thus till now
unchanged in a note!
But it's not the selfsame bird.
No: perised to dust is he..
As also are those who heard
that song with me.
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There is no death! The stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore;
And bright in heaven's Jewelled crown
They shine for evermore.
There is no death! The dust we tread
Shall change beneath the summer showers
To golden grain or mellowed fruit,
Or rainbow-tinted flowers.
There is no death! The leaves may fall,
And flowers may fade and pass away;
They only wait, through wintry hours,
The coming of the May.
And ever near us, though unseen,
The dear immortal spirits tread;
For all the boundless universe
Is life - there are no dead.
John Luckey Mccreery 1835-1906
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In Thought
Walking by the stream
Thinking where it may lead
Through many unknown places
Others to only dream.
A thousand twisting miles
Flow gently past ones thoughts
Of vivid reminisces that bring
So many inward smiles.
Watery reflections of flowing leaves
Draping like a curtain
That shield the passing years
And a heart that greaves.
To see the sun like a flame
Across the sparkling water edge
But it is all in my heart
As I still whisper your name.
Joyce Gale 2007
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