Martin was born at an early age in the small village of Little Weighton in East Yorkshire in December 1958. An apparently successful education at Beverley Grammar School and Van Mildert College, Durham University saw him emerge with 12 'O' Levels, 3 'A' Levels, 1 'S' Level, Use of English Qualification and an Honours Degree in Engineering Science by the time he was 20 years of age. He has not taken another academic exam since.
After working as a Civil Engineer in Carlisle for three years, Martin went south in 1982, to enter into a short-lived marriage, and to begin a career in the IT industry. After working for several companies, including over a year in Canada, he worked as IT Manager with Aldwyck Housing Association from 1994 to 2004. Although it paid the mortgage, he grew to hate computers, and in 2004 Martin had a mid-life crisis/breakdown, and gave up a perfectly good well-paid job and, with his partner Jan, decided to buy a run-down closed village pub on the western fringes of Snowdonia, North Wales. After making a success of the pub, it was sold in 2007, and for seven years Martin worked as Finance & Administration Manager for a small pharmaceutical manufacturer in Caernarfon, whose main product was the weekly output of two tonnes of weapons-grade laxative. Somebody has to do it, but there is only such much laxative a man can make in a lifetime and in late 2014, Martin decided he had reached that limit and decided to go into semi-retirement. Wouldn't have much money, but would have more time, which is probably more important at this stage in life. A few part-time jobs include being a train driver at a local children's park for a couple of seasons, and doing deliveries and garden furniture installations for a local garden centre - what's not to like about driving a big white van all over beautiful North Wales and being paid for it.....
Martin played rugby for his school 1st XV, at University was Captain of his College Boat Club, and also played for Carlisle Rugby Club. He has also enjoyed playing badminton, squash, five-a-side soccer and 10-pin bowling, but failed to reach any greatness in these. Once ran the Great North Run at under a weeks notice, and vowed never to do anything that stupid again.... These days he occasionally works out by watching the Six Nations rugby on the television.
Martin probably got his taste for performing in public when, under the influence of alcohol, he joined St. Albans based Cottonmill Clog Morris dancers in 1986. With them he has appeared all over England, including an appearance on the 'Blue Peter' television programme , and also in Scotland, Ireland and Belgium. For 3 ½ years he was 'Squire' of the team. In 1994, Martin was a founder member of Wicket Brood Morris, based in Bricket Wood near St. Albans, and was 'Squire' for five years, and dance instructor for four. This team has also appeared widely in Britain and had trips to France and St. Albans twin town of Worms in Germany.
As a direct consequence of his involvement with Morris Dancing, Martin taught himself to play the melodeon (a button-accordion), and in 1991 was invited to be a founder member of Hertfordhsire-based band "Easy Weasel", playing for ceilidhs and barn dances throughout the northern Home Counties with increasing popularity. He fronted the band for several years, being additionally the bands 'caller', and the band were noted for their high-energy approach, lively folk-rock music, and enthusiastic desire to have fun! He is now self-styled second best ceilidh caller in North Wales, being the regular caller for his partners "Twmpathology" ceilidh band. A hand injury has sadly now curtailed his playing though.
In April 2000 Martin won the competition to become the Town Crier for St. Albans in Hertfordshire, a position which had been re-instated after dying out in the mid-20th century. A job and house move to Bedfordshire in 2002 caused Martin to look for pastures new in the town crying department, and he was appointed Town Crier of Leighton Buzzard. Martin won several Town Crier competitions during his tenures (yes, it is a thing), and achieved second place in the British Championships in 2004. After moving to North Wales in 2004, the town crying has been mainly put on hold, but the voice is still there when needed.
Martins main hobby now is model railways, and he has exhibited several of his layouts at exhibitions throughout North Wales and beyond. It keeps him off the streets, is harmless enough, and at least Jan knows where to find him....
Martin now lives a quit life with his partner of 30 years, Jan, a thousand feet up a mountain near Caernarfon, on their little smallholding, with their lucher Riley and a couple of rent-paying ponies. On a clear day you can see Ireland, on a clear night you can see for ever.... no light pollution here! On a bad day you can't see the end of the garden as we are in the clouds. He is the proud taid/grandad to two lovely teenage grandchildren for whom he would do almost anything...