PERSONAL ELTHAM Olympian, Artist & Ambassador


John Baker, Olympics Ambassador for Greenwich, former Olympics springboard diver and an artist talks to Matthew Bell


What’s an Olympic Ambassador? I go into schools to talk about 1972 in


Munich. The aim is to enthuse students to get involved in 2012. It's going to be fantastic. The people of Greenwich won't know what's hit them.


How supportive were your family? My father did two jobs to help pay


for it. He was a highly respected judge and my mum trained Andy Banks, Tom Daley's coach.


Did you win any major titles?


In 1966 I was England high board diving champion. The hardest dive I did was one and half forward somersaults with three twists.


Did you suffer any accidents?


I had a nasty one in 1965 which injured my back. Fortunately I was treated by Dr John Buck, then Charlton Athletic’s doctor. Like a lot of divers I also hit my head on the diving board a fair few times.


John at Eltham Pool


How do you try to enthuse them? I show them my commemorative


medal, team blazer and tracksuit from 1972. I tell them how big an event it is and how people will travel from all over the world.


When did you start diving?


At cubs. I won my fi rst competition, aged 10. My father got interested too, becoming an Olympic judge and my mother a coach. I’m from a very sporting family. My brother played water polo for England.


Was it hard work? I worked at Covent Garden market


from 4am to pay for my training. I trained at Eltham and Crystal Palace swimming baths.


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Did you travel much? Yes. I competed in


Germany, France, Italy, Holland and


Scandinavia. And the highlight was my trip to the 1972 Munich Olympics.


What was that like? It was so special, so unique. I’d never


experienced anything like it. Other competitors were almost professional, with far more support from their governments. Grants did not exist then. I was just an amateur.


Did you stay involved in the sport?


I became a technical offi cer for GB, training and attending internationals, fi nally retiring completely in 1980.


How did you become an artist? I always had a passion for art at school.


My teacher, James Riddock at Eltham Green, really inspired me. He taught me the watercolour technique.


Do you exhibit your work?


Yes. I've had shows


in London. I specialise in painting ancient monuments or ancient pots and urns. I'm interested in ancient history, archaeological sites and pagan and Christian allegory.


Help keep Eltham tidy! Put your litter in bins.


Did you meet other sportsmen? Show jumper Harvey Smith and


boxer Alan Minter. We all had a drink together. I stayed in the athletes’ village with the swimmer David Wilkie.


Did any of your family go? My wife Jan. We’d been married for


fi ve months so it was like a honeymoon. She was also involved in diving as a score recorder.


Where were you placed?


23rd out of 32. It was close between 12th and 25th so it was a decent achievement. The problem was I followed the reigning champion.


What are your memories of the terrorist incident?


I was aware but the authorities


tried to keep things quiet. The Sunday afterwards, we went to the stadium to pay tribute to those who died, it was very emotional.


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