I read the comment in John Bain’s letter last week that “Mr Baker merely resurrected the youth club”.

The man that he decries took the young people off the streets some 20 years ago and kept them off the streets some 20 years later.

While I would not wish to diminish Mr Challinor’s work in this community, the youth club which he started was not running when George Baker set up the current youth club some 20 years ago.

What George Baker did will carry on because of his enthusiasm and organisational skills. He set up a management committee that will continue without him. That was the way of Mr Baker. He knew that he would not be with us forever but was determined that the youth club should carry on after him. He managed to get many people involved who had the skills to continue to run the youth club.

George Baker, as far as I am concerned, founded the current West Lavington Youth Club, helping to raise tremendous amounts of money to keep it running. He wrote books, giving the proceeds to the youth club. He got stars from West End musicals to come to our villages and put on concerts to raise money for the youth club. There were so many ways that George Baker helped us to raise funds, together with the efforts of the youth club members themselves. This enabled the building of the youth club’s centre at a cost of £100,000.

The Queen recognised the work of George Baker by bestowing upon him the MBE for his work with West Lavington Youth Club. The youth club was also honoured by being given The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which was presented to us in front of the youth club members by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire.

George Baker came to the youth club whenever he was able, despite his later illness. He talked to and encouraged the young people, being their confidant when they needed him.

Giving the young people somewhere safe to meet, and recognising their needs is what is necessary. We at West Lavington Youth Club are here and will be here for them in years to come, a great deal being due to George Baker, his wife Louie and their enthusiasm and far sightedness. The staff of the youth club and in a small way the management committee are just part of what George Baker set up.

Our sympathies go out to the family of George Baker at the time of their sad loss.

Eric Freeman, West Lavington Youth Club management committee chairman.