George Baker, Inspector Wexford, dies at 80 (From This Is Wiltshire)

George Baker, Inspector Wexford, dies at 80

12:56pm Saturday 8th October 2011 in News By Tom Mooney

George Baker, the Market Lavington actor famed for playing Chief Inspector Wexford in the Ruth Rendell Mysteries, has died.

The 80-year-old had recently suffered a stroke and died on Friday of pneumonia, six months after his third wife Louie Ramsey, who had also played his on-screen wife, died.

As well as playing Chief Inspector Wexford, Mr Baker appeared in The Dam Busters film and TV series I, Claudius. And he was once mooted as a possible James Bond by creator Ian Fleming.

Mr Baker was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his fundraising activities for West Lavington Youth Club.

Eric Freeman, chairman of the youth club, which Mr Baker supported for many years, said he was a wonderful man.

He said: "I knew George ever so well, he was a great friend. He was a great supporter of the youth club, which is how I got to know him. He was chairman but as his health deteriorated he asked me to take it on for him.

"He was a wonderful man and did so much for everyone in the community, he was just a wonderful person, he gave everything for us.

"He was a really good fundraiser and helped keep the youth club going in difficult times when funding from government and local councils had dried up.

"It is very sad news news and he will be really missed."