Albert (Bertie) Baker (b. 1919)

Bertie Baker was born in Kildare and joined the army during the Emergency as a driver of the Command Staff. In 1946 he began his work with Bord na Móna and remained with the Bord until 1984. He began his career with the Bord as a driver of an artic from the docks in Dublin, carrying heavy machinery to all the Bord na Móna works. He also drove a C.I.E. bus which was used for recruitment of men to work for the Bord. He describes in detail a six-cylinder A.E.C. which he drove for many years and recalls that it did the princely mileage of five miles to the gallon! Bertie Baker was one of the first Bord na Móna employees at Boora in October 1946 and he was based there till 1972. He also recalls the early days as he drove apprentices to vocational school in Athlone, carrying them in the back of his lorry – not an easy tack he says! Christopher Daly, a Kerryman from Kilcummin, is recalled as a brilliant champion turf-cutter, who would throw up as many as 90 sods in 60 seconds.