Boardroom honour is picture perfect

And now John Baker's portrait has been hung alongside those of his ancestors inside the boardroom of the former James Baker & Sons premises in Cleveland Street, All Saints.

He unveiled the picture at a ceremony to honour the Baker family.

Mr Baker, aged 87, from Claverley, said: "I thought the picture was very good.

He added: "It's very nice to have this boardroom here with all the photographs around with my ancestors." The former shoe factory, which made boots for soldiers during the Second World War, is now part occupied by Engineering Real Results (ERR), which has turned the Grade II listed building into a training centre for building services engineers.

The company has fitted out the boardroom with antique furniture as well as items from the original business, including the other portraits, which were found in a cupboard in the cellars.

Mr Baker was given a tour of the building yesterday, along with his daughters Annabel and Caroline and city mayor Councillor Milkinder Jaspal.

Also joining them were Neville Rowell, whose grandfather was once the building's caretaker, his wife Sophie and Karen Davies, from Wolverhampton City Archives.

Mr Rowell donated a chair from the original boardroom for the occasion and the city archives has given over boots made by the company in its heyday.

Mr Baker said: "I came along last year when things were just in the early stages for the official launch.

"I think they've done a very good job. I'm surprised how well they've fitted it out."

He added: "It brings back memories of the old days."

Baker's Boots was founded in Walsall by James Baker in 1850.

It moved to Wolverhampton in 1860. In the 1970s the factory was bought by high street shoe chain Clarks and was left to fall into disrepair.

Giving a speech at this week's ceremony, ERR managing director Phil Prosser said that he hoped the new portrait would do justice to the family and that youngsters would be inspired by the Victorian work ethic.

Mr Baker added in a speech: "It is nice that portraits of all the ancestors should be placed together in one room and I hope that mine will form a useful addition."

Mr Baker was presented with a magnum of champagne and a book about the 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment by the company's financial angel, businessman Jan Telensky.