Martin was born on Monday 26 June 1939 in Swansea. He was clever and did well at school. He went to Oxford and studied history. But he spent most of his time acting, including playing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. He would have liked a career on the stage, but his mother, Freda, quickly put a stop to that and he became the next best thing – a barrister.
Martin continued acting on the side and met Tricia, at an amateur dramatics group in London called ‘The Eyebrows.’ They fell in love, married in 1965 and moved to Cardiff.
Martin had a successful and fulfilling career. He was a sought-after criminal barrister, becoming a QC in 1982 and a Circuit Judge in 1986. He enjoyed his time on the Wales and Chester Circuit and became the senior judge in Swansea.
He used his experience to teach prospective judges at the Judicial Studies Board and was on the parole board for many years.
He moved to the Old Bailey in London in 1999 where he presided over the most serious and complex criminal cases for 13 years until he retired.
Martin enjoyed the law, enjoyed talking about the law and enjoyed being part of the legal community.
He was respected as a wise and compassionate judge by everyone he worked with. This included his fellow judges, the barristers who appeared before him and by the ushers, clerks and admin staff who helped him manage his court.
One of his clerks, Vernon, was given the important task of keeping him up to date with the cricket scores during a trial.
Having spoken to lots of people who worked with him, it seems he wasn’t just admired, he was also loved – because of his sense of humour and innate ability to talk to people.
This wasn’t reserved for work colleagues. Martin was deeply loved by all his family and friends. He formed close relationships and loved meeting up with friends, swapping stories and chatting over a meal.
Martin and Tricia were married for 59 years. They had a wonderful marriage, full of happiness and laughter.
Tricia always says that she was never bored when Martin was with her. He was very entertaining and was normally the centre of attention whenever he entered a room.
His children, Marianne, Tony and Richard loved him with all their hearts. He was a brilliant dad who taught his children important life skills like yoyo tricks and putting your glasses on at a funny angle to make people laugh.
Car journeys were enhanced by his enthusiastic renditions of an old music hall song called ‘List’ to Me’ about Alphonoso Spaghonno the Torreador! (Don’t ask.)
He was passionate about cricket and arranged matches between the Cardiff barristers and his own team.
His middle child, Tony, tragically died of cancer aged 20. He packed so much into his short life and gave the family only pride. It says a lot about Martin and Tricia’s marriage that they were able to withstand this desperate loss, refusing to be consumed by grief.
Martin lived to see Richard and Marianne get married to Vicky and Alex (both of whom he adored). He had five fantastic grandchildren: Adam, Jonah, Dylan, Jack and Millie. He had amazing individual relationships with each one of them and they brought him great joy.
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, ‘that a man has success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task.’
This may be quoted a lot in obituaries. But it could have been written specifically about Martin.
Obituary written by Richard Stephens
