Obituary Notice — James Cecil Baring, 6th Baron Revelstoke

By David F. Rooney

James Cecil Baring, 6th Baron Revelstoke, has died. Born on August 16, 1938, the charming descendent of the first Lord Revelstoke after whom our city is named died on February 7 at the age of 73 after an excellent lunch and an enjoyable flight as co-pilot over the Irish Sea.

Loved and admired father of Alex, Tom, Aksinia and Miranda.  The funeral will be for family only.

His very brief official obituary said “a Service of Celebration of his life will be held in London in the spring.  Details will be announced shortly via his website.  To be kept informed, join our Mailing List.  Please inform anyone else who may wish to know.”

Revelstokians who wish to leave their own thoughts and memories of Lord Revelstoke can do so on his website’s Guestbook, which includes anecdotes from his friends and family.

Lord Revelstoke visited our community in 2009 for that year’s Homecoming celebrations. As Revelstoke Museum Curator Cathy English recalled, “he was a real good sport” for sticking to the gruelling schedule assigned to him by the Homecoming Organizing Committee.

“I was very sorry to hear of his death,” English said Wednesday. “I had corresponded with him for a couple of years prior to the Homecoming and I thought he was a very nice and charming man. He truly enjoyed learning more about our community and his family’s role in its creation.”

Mayor David Raven echoed Cathy English’s comments.

” I am saddened by the news of the passing of Lord Revelstoke and wish to extend the sympathy of the entire communtiy to the family he leaves behind,” he said. “James Baring visited the city in 2009 during which we spent many enjoyable hours together discussing the city and his very colourfull life.  We wish the new Lord Revelstoke all the best and hope that he too will visit our fair city in the near future.”

The former RAF pilot impressed Revelstokians with his charm and sense of humour and a number responded by writing their thoughts in the online Guest Book. You can read his thank-you to the people of Revelstoke, here, and you can view photos from that visit below:

James Baring, Lord Revelsoke, poses with Edna Me and David Johnson at Minto Manor, where he stayed during his visit to Revelstoke in July 2009 for the three-day Homecoming celebration. Revelstoke Current file photo
Councillor Phil Welock tries to snag the ribbon as it flies away a split second after James Baring, Lord Revelstoke, snipped the ribbon to officially open the Grizzly Plaza expansion as Mayor Dave Raven looks on. Revelstoke Current file photo
James Baring, Lord Revelstoke, can't seem to resist this red MG on display at the 2009 Homecoming Vintage Auto Show-N-Shine onthe first day of the celebration. Revelstoke Current file photo
James Baring, Lord Revelstoke, must know something about vintage MGs as he points out to Mayor David Raven and Alan Chell of the Homecoming Committee some of the features beneath the hood of this red model on display at the 2009 Homecoming Vintage Auto Show-N-Shine on Mackenzie Avenue on the first day of the community celebration. Revelstoke Current file photo
James Baring, Lord Revelstoke, listens as Revelstoke Museum Curator Cathy English speaks at the opening of a new exhibit that tells the story of Revelstoke's change of name on the second day of the 2009 Homecoming celebration graced by the baronet's attendance. Revelstoke Current file photo
James baring, Lord Revelstoke (left), dined with City Councillor Tony Scarcella and his wife, Irene, at the St. Francis Catholic Church's dinner on on the second day of the 2009 Homecoming celebration. Revelstoke Current file photo