Martin, known to many as Bert; what a man!
I first met him when he came to join the Bell Harp T.O.W.C. He had recently left the Rawdon Colliery Club, for his own reasons, but that was Martin, always his own man! He soon fitted in with the rest of the team. Strong and willing, and getting those around him to be the same.
As time went by, I realised that Martin was, and had been, a man of many parts in his life. He loved being a miner best of all, but when that finished, he took on many other jobs, he was always on time and welcomed wherever he worked. One of his jobs was on the railway, that’s when we found out that he had been a keen ‘train spotter’ – who would have thought it!
Martin had also belonged to a motorcycle group, who for some reason painted their thumb nails green – they must have been a tough bunch?! I think that must have been the time he got his tattoos, especially his Eagle! He told me many times about the antics they got into – and how his hair used to blow in the wind ‘like liquid gold!’
As time went past, Martin and Denise got together and decided to marry – quite a decision! It turned out to be the ‘Perfect Match’! Martin said it was the best thing he had ever done. He got on well with the children, Hayley and Robert, he knew how to make them laugh! He took on, and insisted on doing all the household duties; washing-up, ironing, gardening etc.
When the T.O.W.C. finished, Denise and Martin took part in the London Marathon and soon after decided to start a ‘social’ running club. A few of us got together and Martin was in his element helping and guiding us to get going “Come on, you CAN do it!” he’d say, and we did.
In the twenty years since it began, Martin became a central figure – his friendly and cheerful nature made him a very popular member on the regular training nights. He really enjoyed pushing himself to the limits.
I went on a lot of holidays and breaks with Martin, Denise and the family, I think his favourite area was Northumberland, near the beaches, but he loved the freedom anywhere he went. It was on these outings that he showed his love of nature and all kinds of animals, he couldn’t walk past them without fussing and feeding them.
In his last year, he found great pleasure in landscaping the hill, which was their Back Garden. When he finished, it looked as if it was done by a professional!! He then turned his hand to working with wood, he was good at that as well!
But, sadly, his fitness and strength couldn’t beat in his final battle; so soon and so unexpected. I and many, many others will miss him so much, but we are so thankful that he came into our lives.
Cheers!
Martin AKA Bert, from ‘the Old Guy’.