The Germans have a word for someone like Martin - ‘ein Unikum’ . Martin was Martin and did things his way.

We enjoyed Martin’s company on many school ski trips. Many of my memories come from these. There was the time when Martin  turned up at the lunchtime meeting point, wearing his characteristic leather motor cycling gauntlets, complete with built in indicators. He looked round nonchalantly. “Oh,’ he said, ‘ I had a group of children with me , when I set off. ‘

Another time we had Lizzie with us, she would have been about 11. The staff had drawn lots over who was to stay to keep an eye on those who didn’t want to go swimming that evening. I had lost. About 15 minutes after they had left, there was a tiny tap on my open door. A little voice said, ‘Penny, my Daddy’s left me behind.’

A man who comes to do some gardening and finds nobody in. He carries out the work regardless and leaves a note through the door, ‘Veni, vidi, pruni.’

This was Martin. Never to be forgotten.

Penny M