tribute to Bernie martin
Bernard J Martin
1943 – 2019.
Bernard or Bernie as he was known to many of us, died peacefully in March after a long period of fading health. He was a larger than life character who did not have one of the best starts in life but progressed and had the skills and the ability to make a great impression on all those he met.
He was born in Ireland and taken into care at an early age. When he was almost 14, he “escaped” to England on his own and without any Family care or protection. An interest in catering quickly developed through employment in the industry and undertaking the most menial of tasks, he progressed.
For some years he was involved in catering for the Film Industry, travelled the World and rubbed shoulders with many of the famous film stars of that time. It was nothing to hear tales of the making of Dr. Zhivago, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, Lawrence of Arabia and on it went.
From that role, he became responsible for the catering of a large Public Company with many people under his management before retirement in approximately, 2002. Not content with a sedentary way of life, he then took on the responsibilities, as Caretaker, at a local School for some years.
Against that background, it is hardly surprising that when he took up an Allotment at Aldwickbury, it was with great enthusiasm and such was his enthusiasm, that he was quickly leasing several. Moderation was not an idea that came readily to Bernie and so he would spend endless hours working his plots and ……gossiping! Of course, the product of all this effort was vast quantities of produce which he would share with anyone in sight. Needless to say, not everyone required half a ton of courgettes every week!
We shall miss him. We shall miss his great humour, he was excellent company and knew an enormous number of people and he had a razor sharp memory. There was an incredible willingness to share his skills, whether catering or gardening and he was generous of his time and indeed money….and particularly with his seemingly endless supply of produce! We owe him a debt.
1943 – 2019.
Bernard or Bernie as he was known to many of us, died peacefully in March after a long period of fading health. He was a larger than life character who did not have one of the best starts in life but progressed and had the skills and the ability to make a great impression on all those he met.
He was born in Ireland and taken into care at an early age. When he was almost 14, he “escaped” to England on his own and without any Family care or protection. An interest in catering quickly developed through employment in the industry and undertaking the most menial of tasks, he progressed.
For some years he was involved in catering for the Film Industry, travelled the World and rubbed shoulders with many of the famous film stars of that time. It was nothing to hear tales of the making of Dr. Zhivago, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, Lawrence of Arabia and on it went.
From that role, he became responsible for the catering of a large Public Company with many people under his management before retirement in approximately, 2002. Not content with a sedentary way of life, he then took on the responsibilities, as Caretaker, at a local School for some years.
Against that background, it is hardly surprising that when he took up an Allotment at Aldwickbury, it was with great enthusiasm and such was his enthusiasm, that he was quickly leasing several. Moderation was not an idea that came readily to Bernie and so he would spend endless hours working his plots and ……gossiping! Of course, the product of all this effort was vast quantities of produce which he would share with anyone in sight. Needless to say, not everyone required half a ton of courgettes every week!
We shall miss him. We shall miss his great humour, he was excellent company and knew an enormous number of people and he had a razor sharp memory. There was an incredible willingness to share his skills, whether catering or gardening and he was generous of his time and indeed money….and particularly with his seemingly endless supply of produce! We owe him a debt.