Plaque Unveiled in Bishops Park to 'Mother of the Wounded'

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Commemorating Constance Baker who entertained troops in park during WW1

Centre L-R: Timothy Warner, grandson of Constance Baker, Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham Cllr Daryl Brown, Mayor of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Cllr Geoffrey Hipperson, and Pablo Walsingham, Vice Chairman of Mariam Parish Council

A new plaque has been unveiled in Fulham's Bishops Park to

commemorate a local women who gave her time and money to entertain and feed the troops in the park during the First World War.

The plaque for Norfolk-born Constance Baker was unveiled in the park on Saturday 11 January. A similar plaque was unveiled in her hometown of Marham, last September.

Mrs Baker’s family moved to Pimlico, London, in 1891, where she met and married her husband, John, and moving to Fulham, where she worked as a dressmaker, creating outfits for stars of the opera and theatre.

When one of her eight sons, John Gilbert, was killed in action at Paschendale, Mrs Baker and her husband decided to offer their support to the troops by arranging entertainment in Bishops Park.

Much of the family’s wealth was spent on goods and food for the returning troops, which earned her the title, Mother of the Wounded. This was also inscribed on her tombstone, following her death in 1929 at the age of 61 Livingstone in Scotland.

Mrs Baker’s legacy in the borough is maintained through her great-grandson, Tim Warner, who lives on the Edward Woods Estate in Shepherds Bush.

On Saturday 21 September, 2019, the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Cllr Daryl Brown attended a ceremony for the unveiling of Constance Baker’s plaque in Marham.

In reciprocation, the Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Cllr Geoff Hipperson, attended this weekend’s event in Fulham, along with members of Mrs Baker’s family.

The unveiling was also attended by Chelsea Pensioners and officers from the Royal Yeomanry.

"We’re delighted to be able to have in our park this permanent way of commemorating the invaluable actions of our resident Constance Baker during the First World War," said Cllr David Morton, H&F Council’s Representative for the Armed Forces.

Last summer, H&F Council pledged lifelong support for the armed forces and their families by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

 

January 15, 2020