As a Geography teacher I am often embarrassed to admit that I am not very well travelled. I was born in High Wycombe, grew up and went to school in Amersham, studied at University in London, took my first teaching job in London, met my wife in London, then had children and…moved back to Buckinghamshire, where I now work in, you guessed it, Amersham. Knowing many of you on our parent body, however, my life story is not unusual. Many of us grew up around here and have either stayed or returned, partly due to existing family connections but mainly because it’s a very nice place to live and links perfectly the job market and vibrancy of the capital with the semi-rural idyll of the Chilterns.
Bringing up children in this environment and community is also as close to ideal as one can get. The presence of great schools play a part of course, but so do all manner of local attractions and amenities that form such a memorable and nostalgic backdrop to not only our own, but also now our children’s lives. Growing up, I well remember my mother calling Bekonscot to find out “Are the trains running today?”, fascinated as my brother, sister and I were with the model village and its intricate railway layout. We would also spend hours at what became known in our family as, ‘the dead zoo’, a name bequeathed to the National History Museum at Tring by my older sister. These two and many others became firm favourites with my own children, but the number one destination for Bakers both senior and junior has always been Whipsnade. We had season tickets for years, such was the regularity of our visits. The vastness of the site and the freedom to drive in and go to our favourite spots made this the perfect family occasion, and a place of ultimate nostalgia for all of my 53 years.
Appropriate then this past Wednesday when Brigid and I drove up at dusk to Ivinghoe Beacon to witness the illumination of the Whipsnade Lion. As a special event to celebrate 200 years of Whipsnade, the chalk Lion, created in 1933, is lit for an hour at dusk every Wednesday during autumn. It always dominates the landscape but with the illuminated outline and dappled autumnal light, its presence was all the more impressive. And we were not alone in the car park; scores of young and old, all making pilgrimage with fond past and present memories, of what is very much a national and local, treasure.
Have a good weekend,
Nick Baker