RAVEN TRUST - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Founder and Former Trustee

I have known Bob for over 20 years, since he first came out to Malawi. His wife Jan was doing some educational tasks in South Africa, so he came up to Malawi to see the ‘birds'. He was a keen ornithologist who relished seeing the local birds and animals of central Africa, identifying many from a distance. He soon became involved with The Raven Trust, working on various practical projects within CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) offering support and encouragement. Always with grace and skill as together we faced numerous challenges. Vilali, a church just outside Muzui had a special involvement with him and his home church in Alness. They ran a weekly feeding programme for ‘gogos' (senior women), who looked after orphaned children with little support - often going without food themselves so that the children had something to eat. Funds were sourced for maize seed and, where appropriate, sacks of maize from the local market. On every trip to Malawi he visited them with resources and encouragement. Bob's background was as a chemistry teacher and, with Jan, they established many libraries in CCAP schools around northern Malawi. This involved collecting suitable books from all over Scotland. Bob would load them in his camper van for shipment through The Raven Trust's containers, and more recently via the Banana Box Trust. Many thousands of books have been dispatched and delivered. Before teaching, Bob was an industrial chemist in a large steel works. This experience was well used in an experiment to light a long-forgotten lime kiln near Livingstonia. To check the purity of various rock sources, vinegar is added which makes the rock ‘fizz'. The locals were amazed at Bob's skill in making rock sing! There are many other memorable journeys that together we were involved in. Bob will be remembered for his Christian faith and encouragement of others wherever he went with his wide practical skills and warm humour. The last few months have been a challenge for both Bob and Jan, together with his family. Now there is no more pain, and he rests with the Lord. John Challis OBE, founder and former trustee of The Raven Trust, has sent us this tribute to Bob Baxter, a great friend of the Trust, who died in January 2024