From the first days of meeting Martin at Kings Court Primary School in Old Windsor, 1961,
I knew he was someone who I wanted to be friends with. We spent ages building Chuckabooms, our rolling building block invention and generally creating
mayhem.
He was always kind, thoughtful, and loved squeaking our teddy bears in the silent moments of the school nativity plays in his many mischievous ways.
As we progressed through the Kings Court years, he became this intelligent, very tall, blondkid who was top of the class and commanded such a strong presence on the football field that he became such a popular and idolised individual.
I was mad on cricket and I remember on our many teas round our parents houses, ah those fish fingers/ sausage rolls beans and chips with masses of bread and butter were simply the best, Martin said if I wanted to get into the football side I should know all the positions and helped me so much with that.
He was always calm and always knew the answers to things and he rarely lost his temperunless absolutely pushed, especially when he wasn’t allowed out to play if he hadn’t finished his homework or indoor chores. We would always laugh about it afterwards.
Peggy and John, his parents, always made me very welcome as well as their crazy lovely dog, Dusty. His brother, Michael had all the Beatles singles and we would try to play as many as we could before he came home. He always knew and told us off, happy memories.
We were in the cubs and scouts together and I remember one occasion where we had to perform at the local village Memorial Hall as tiller girls doing the can can. It was so funny we even got called back for an encore.
By 1967 we had parted school ways, with Martin and our close friends passing the 11 plusexam and going to Windsor Grammar School. This is where Martins love of Rugby began as they never played football there, although we did end up playing for Windsor RoversFootball side which included a lot of our pals from Kings Court.
Martin gave me the confidence to start playing football and I became very good playing for 3 teams at Trevelyan Secondary Modern School and ended up as House Captain and Head Boy. Something had rubbed off, for sure.
That fantastic and oh so special night in May 1968, when Martin asked me if I wanted to come and watch the European Cup Final at Wembley, to see the great Manchester United take on the Portuguese might, Benfica. The chance to see my all time top footballer, George Best, was a crazy schoolboy dream and here was I, the envy of my class mates.
It truly was a magical evening, an incredible experience, one I will treasure and never forgetand when Martin sent me, recently, the original programme from that game, 51 years ago, the memories came flooding back and I truly felt so humble, sad, elated. We were 12, again. It was such a heartfelt gesture.
After Windsor Boys, Martins rise in the business and Rugby World was amazing and although it is natural to lose contact as you grow and develop it was always wonderful to meet up when we could and the beauty of any meeting was he had not changed and was the polite respectful true fun friend he always was.
I am so glad and proud and lucky to have been part of some of his life and to meet him again in April this year was so special. It gave me such a buzz when I saw this Big Guy walking towards me, always with a warm embrace and smile.. we ate Croque Monsieur had some teaand talked the world over. . He was always interested in my family, my son, Scott and daughter Stephanie and how they were doing. My only regret, we didn’t spend more time together that day, but know he was feeling tired.
He spoke so wonderfully of his life in Austin, his family, his rock and the love he showed me that day was a testimony to this beautiful, charismatic man.
I didn’t know that would be the last time I would see Martin and when I received the message from Tina that fateful, Sunday 6th October, I felt devastated . It was so cruel to hear of him so broken, yet he had found peace away from the pain. I had to get out and walked for hours. I am so glad he had his family’s natural strength courage love and support around him.
He found so much happiness. True happiness, and that’s what he gave to so many people
and I was fortunate enough to be one of them.