William Howard Baker

Of the obituaries in the National Press, the following, a version of  which appeared in The Times, this was the best-liked by his family.

Bill Howard Baker’s literary career started in journalism and culminated with the Howard Baker Press, which he founded and ran almost single handed for more than 20 years. After the Second World War, during which he served in the armed forces, Baker travelled extensively throughout the Far East, America and Europe while writing as a freelance correspondent. Having settled in London he became editor of Panther Books after a spell as correspondent for a group of German and Scandinavian magazines.

He was already an established author of Sexton Blake stories under his own name, as well as under the pseudonym Peter Saxon, when he was invited to become editor of the Sexton Blake Library for Amalgamated Press. During his time at Fleetway House (1955-1964) Baker not only increased the popularity of the SBL but was also controlling editor of several other Amalgamated Press children’s picture magazines Several of his Sexton Blake stories are considered among the best ever written and it was Baker who introduced Paula Dane, Blake’s secretary, to the world. He continued to publish the books under a new imprint after Amalgamated Press was taken over. After founding the Howard Baker Press in 1968 he continued with the Blake stories in hardback format.

One of the major planks in his book list was biographies. These included the delightful World of Alison Uttley by Elizabeth Saintsbury. Which accompanied reprints of several of Mrs. Uttley’s own writings on the countryside.

Memories of Bill’s school days and family holidays in Ireland, where he would walk along the cliff road in Cross Haven, reading that week's adventures of Billy Bunter and Co. at Greyfriars School, were the inspiration for his chef d’oeuvre – the intended reprinting of the entire run of 1683 weekly issues of the Magnet in which these tales had appeared between 1908 and 1940. Although the start was tentative and, indeed speculative, the venture proved so popular that, as Baker said in a radio interview, “More Magnets are being printed today than at the paper’s zenith of popularity”. Published in several formats, including a modern version of the Greyfriars Holiday Annual, each volume contained up to ten issues of the Magnet. With some 1500 issues re printed he sadly did not live to see the culmination of his dream.

Unfortunately his private press and distribution net work limited the potential circulation and sales of his books; but the arcane minority, for whom he unashamedly slaved, did much to overcome the shortcomings of lack of advertising through word of mouth and, despite several crises, he managed not only to survive but flourish.

Baker was born and educated in Cork where he was editor of his school magazine. An eclectic man, he listed amongst his hobbies fish ponds, waterfalls, church architecture and the contemplation of tasks undone.