Obituary: Mr David Jeffrey Baggaley
Mr David Jeffrey Baggaley, has died in Grantham Hospital. He was 70.
Mr Baggaley was born in August 1944 at Middle Farm, Valley Lane, Long Bennington.
He attended Long Bennington School until the age of 14 and then went on to Springfield Central School in Grantham.
After school he attended Caythorpe Agricultural College, before starting work with his dad on the farm.
He met Diane at a disco in Newark and they were married on Easter Saturday, 1968, at Newark Parish Church. Their first marital home was on Welbournes Lane, Long Bennington. After a couple of years they were offered a smallholding on Fen Lane in the village. By this time Mr Baggaley and his father were carrying out contract farm work around the county, but he wanted to start his own business and realising that a particular part of a combine, the sieve, often wore out or broke, he started offering reconditioned sieves to farmers and subsequently Sieve Services was created. The business went well and he branched out into Midland Combines Limited, supplying parts and becoming one of the biggest suppliers of combine parts in the country, with 670 dealers and eventually supplying around the world.
Ever the entrepreneur, Mr Baggaley had great fun starting several other businesses - a CB radio shop in Grantham; landscape gardening; Christmas trees; barbecues made out of oil drums; a farm shop; laser shoot; a mobile hog roasting machine, designed and built by him; a coal round; and then a wedding car hire business, with a stretch limousine and an American Lincoln Continental.
As well as managing his businesses, Mr Baggaley was always involved in helping others. He loved going to Newark Folk Club and was a regular singer. He also organised many concerts in the village hall to raise money for charities, his favourite being the British Heart Foundation.
He helped to found the Long Bennington Drama Group and was heavily involved in many plays, both acting and creating the sets. He also appeared at the Robin Hood Theatre, Averham, and also as Santa Claus at Marston village school.
One of Mr Baggaley’s claims to fame was appearing on national television and winning in an episode of Scrapheap Challenge, as the expert giving advice on how to build a combine harvester using an old London black cab.
He was a regular exhibitor at Newark Agricultural Show, where his stands won many awards and the Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufactureres Association (LAMMA). Over many years he was involved with the organisation and management, finally becoming a director.
Mr Baggaley lived in Long Bennington all his life and was actively involved in the village scene. He served on the parish council; helped to start the village car boot sales; the firework displays at the Royal Oak; sponsoring the boys football team; raising birds for the local shoot; and organising parties for family and friends.
He enjoyed some wonderful experiences and recently had a ride on a Lancaster bomber at East Kirkby. He had also had a helicopter trip, a hot air balloon ride, microlight trip, a cruise down the Panama Canal and a trip to see the Northern Lights. He enjoyed many holidays with his family and liked his annual skiing trips.
Mr Baggaley has also left a legacy in place - Baggaley’s Jubilee Wood on Valley Lane, in conjunction with the Woodland Trust and in commemoration of the Queen’s Jubilee.
He was very much a family man and enjoyed spending time with his family - Di, James and Sarah, and twin grandsons, Jack and Liam.
The funeral service was held at St Swithun’s Church, Long Bennington, followed by cremation in Grantham. The services were conducted by the Rev Harriet Orridge.
Family mourners included: Diane Baggaley, James Baggaley, Sarah Baggaley, Ian Spicer, Jack and Liam Hoyes, Christine Lee, Peter Rogers, Rebecca Lee, Jessica Lee, John Burbidge, Jean Burbidge, Ryan Burbidge, Harvey Burbidge, Cynthia Mann, Gay Baggaley, John and Sue Baggaley, Linda and Terry Burt, Roland and Glynis Hall, Pam and John Rees, Joe Rees, Jack Rees, Marilyn and John Underwood, Anne and Howard Barnes, Gilly and Mark Whitnall, Leonard Fairhall, Kate Levery, Tina and Paul Carley, Colin Barber, John F. Baggaley (Staunton), Mr and Mrs J. Widdowson, Mr and Mrs D. Hogg, Michael and Jill Baggaley, Steven Baggaley, John Baggaley (Normanton), Andrew and James Baggaley, Amy Baggaley, P. Baggaley, Mick and Joy Taylor, and Marian and Alan Bishop,
Other mourners included: Ann and Dennis Andrews, Sue Foster, Linda Noquet, Marlene and Bill Hudson, Jess Chapman, Stuart McKiernon, Ray Alderton, Disco Rose, Tom and Lorna, Cliffe Jones, Margaret Brewer, Ken, Heather and David Renshaw, Michael Mart, Cliff Preston, Robert and Carolyn Smith, Michael Walker, Stuart Hall, Angela Foreman, John Headland, Howard Pell, Mark Colclough, Colin Smith, Antony Mitchell, Pat Mitchell, Neil Marriott, Viona Fearn, Helen Henderson, Lee Henderson, Jeff Wakefield, Mr and Mrs P. Warrier, John Breedon and Sue, Michael Hill, Gill Cook, A, Hardy, Sally Cook, Rebecca Mastin-Cook, Barry Johnson, Dave Clarke, Brendan Gunn, Mr and Mrs C. Rose, Amanda Kelly, Jean and Brian Burgess, Adrian Morrey, Peter Taylor, David Grove, Phillip, Stuart Squires, Alex Maniorka, Tony Bell, Toni Birch, Luan Birch, Holly Birch, Amanie Brittan, Jason Pratt, Will and Sheila Ablewhite, Dennis, Bill and Eva Allen, Judy and David Sprawson, Robert Willey (Househam Sprayers), Wendy Storey, Eunice Harker, John Harker, Sylvia Hallam, Russell and Sue Winter, Val and Grenville Wollerton, Aaron Braid, Christine Henderson, Colin and Glynis Bryan, Michael Earl, George and Pauline Pratt, George and Mary Dring, A. Claxton, Pat Walker, Ivo, Gill and Scarlett Simbaev, Bob Sheldon, Roger, Mary and Clare Peet, Stanley and Diane Armstrong, Wendy and Geoff Carman, Tarnia Venning-Rhodes, Graham Noquet, Alice Noquet, Andrew Davies, Mr and Mrs G. Fearn, Valerie Richardson, BJ Knight, DH Knight, Mick Beale, Ann Howell, Brian Churchyard, Richard Tebb, Sue Marris, Joyce Beedham, Robert Lunn, Shirley Dring, Richard and Jayne Dring, Peter Elner, Mick Markham, Derek and Joyce Ablewhite, Tony and Pam, Jo Headland, Brigid Headland, Roger Key, Roy Turner, Terry and Janice Keal, John Proctor, Richard Rainthorpe, Philip Allen, Philippa Allen, David and Maureen Wright, John Fletcher, Colin Ingham, Les Smith Eng, Mr and Mrs Welbourne, Mrs E. Potts, Mrs D. Cross, Barbara and Ted Pykett, B. Holmes, Gill Holmes, Gemma Walker, Sarah Gillbard, Sam Oswin, Debbie and Dutch Holland, Denys Burton, Tim Turner, Vicki Cooper, Carole and Roger Lee, Paul Hempstead, Mr and Mrs D. Worth, Gerald Birkett, Christine Hudson, Simon Storey, Stephen Storey, Susan Storey, Jan Orrey, John Orrey, E. Farren, Robert and Eileen Eggleston, John Dawson, Jean Spicer, David and Diane Spicer, Antony Kirkland, John Wilkinson (Orston), Vivienne Mousley, Tom Braithwaite, Glen Foreman, Andy Foreman, Marina Glover, Shayne Dawson, Ian Marshall, Roger Johnson, Brenda Pettener, Chris and Pete Jordan, Geoff Fearn (Long Bennington Parish Council), Jack Ranyard, Ann and David Digby, Mitch Strurnson, Geoff Sharpe, Ian Burgin, Andrew and Frances Jackson, David Dubinson, Yvonne and Ralph Knight, Nick and Lisa Rains, Emma Storey, Bob and Dorothy Smith, Richard and Sharon Potts, Murray and Mavis Arnold, Simon and Lucy Robertson, Alan and Mary Tivey, John Morris, Joyce Bainbridge, Stuart Favill, Robert Hardy, Peter Kirk, Mr and Mrs P. Kelly, Keith Weightman, David Knight, S. Fenton, P. Fenton, Mr and Mrs C. Sterling, Jean Bowes, Douglas Smith, Neil Smith, David Robinson, Roy Busse, Brian and Shena Rumbold, Robin Hall, Justin Lill, Krystyna Cross, Hazel Hook, Mark Beale, John Hawthorne, Emma and Thomas, Steve and Chris Norris, John Sartain (LAMMA), Roger and Jennifer Hellen, Richard Walker, Mrs J. Hoole, Sue Wilson, Richard Walton, Robert Gash, Ken Smith, Graham Hicks, Chris Turner, David Pearson, Chris Hughes, Pat Morgan, Linsay Nearn, and Joe Nearn.
Funeral arrangements were by William Roberts and Sons, Devon Lane, Bottesford.
