Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 21 June 1924
Mr. Spencer Baker
Mr. Spencer Baker, solicitor, of Priory Place, Conisborough, was, at the monthly meeting of the Council, on Wednesday, appointed to the position of Clerk to the Council, in the place of Mr. H. M. Marshall, Clerk to the Doncaster Rural District Council, who has held the position since Conisborough obtained urban powers.
Mr. Baker was born at Newcastle-under-Lyme, in Staffordshire, and was educated at the Middle School, the same school at which Mr. Arnold Bennett, the “Five Towns” novelist, was educated. Mr. Baker was articled to a solicitor of Hanley, the Borough Coroner, Mr. W. Huntbach, and acted as deputy coroner for six years. In 1910, Mr. Baker came to Doncaster, since which time he has practised extensively in the Borough. He is solicitor to the Doncaster Co-operative Society.
Mr. Spencer Baker has been closely identified with the Conisborough Council, having represented the old Parish Council in 1914, just prior to the War, in their efforts to achieve urban powers. That scheme fell through owing to the War, but in 1919, Mr. Baker again represented the Council; at this time, the application was granted by the County Council, and later, in 1920, the Ministry of Health confirmed the application. The delay was caused by the intervention of the Denaby Parish Council.
Mr. Baker will continue to practise in Doncaster, the appointment being a part-time one. Mr. Baker was first informed of his success by our representative when he called upon him yesterday. He has had an office in Denaby for some years, and is a familiar figure to the neighbourhood.
In 1920, Mr. Baker stood as a candidate for the Hyde Park Ward in the Doncaster Municipal election. He was unsuccessful, being beaten by Mr. W. J. Crookes, the Labour candidate, but polled very heavily, securing 749 votes. His programme was for generous municipal reform, and he claimed that party differences were not the concern of local government, which should concentrate on the well-being of all local citizens.
Mr. Baker takes up his duties with the Conisborough Council on July 1st.