Martin was born on the 25th of October 1973 at the family home in Botcheston to mum and dad, Sue and Dave. He was the middle child with brothers Simon and Ian. Elder brother Simon can clearly remember the day. His mum thought the midwife was brilliant, mainly because she sent Dave out to buy more fags for them.

In 1980, Ian the youngest child was born and the family moved to Blaby to the house that would become the family home for many years.

Martin went to Thistly Meadow Primary School followed by Leysland High School and Countesthorpe College. His links with his primary school remained close as Oliver and Evie went there too and Martin became a member of the PTA: taking on the role of Santa Claus.

He was a keen sportsman right from early childhood. At a young age Martin started playing for the Junior Blaby Cricket Club, He supported the team all his life.

Not only was Martin heavily involved on the field but also off the field – behind the scenes. First as the Treasurer and then as the Secretary. He was instrumental in the improvements that were made in the Club during his time there.

It must be said too that Martin was so chuffed when he fulfilled his bucket list dream of watching England play cricket in the West Indies back in 2023.

Martin was always a superfan of Leicester City Football Club. He’d been a supporter since he’d been eight years old and had a season ticket for over twenty years

Martin was so proud when Leicester won the Premier League in 2016, and he got to watch Leicester win the FA Cup in 2021 at Wembley. As well as travelling to Madrid in Spain to watch Leicester take part in the Champions League.

At the age of sixteen Martin left school and joined Hogg Robinson an insurance company in Leicester. He later moved to Cunningham Lindsey then on to Crawford’s in Birmingham followed by The Davies Group in Stoke. He worked in insurance all his life ending up as an insurance fraud special investigator: working from home in recent years. Martin made many long-term friends in the industry.

Holidays were Martin’s passion! As a child the family’s favourite holiday spot was Chapel Saint Leonard, years later Martin bought a static caravan there for himself, Jenny and the family to stay in.

Jenny and Martin met when they went to Leysland. They were 11 and it was Jenny’s first crush! However, Martin was too busy playing football and cricket.

They carried on with their lives and would often say ‘hello’ when they bumped into each other, Martin with his cheeky smile and normally a beer in hand. They finally became a couple in 2004.

Martin and Jenny welcomed their first child, their son Oliver into the world in January 2007. A year later they were married at Ratby Church with a fabulous reception at the Rothley Court Hotel.

Martin and Jenny were so happy when their second child, daughter Evie was born in 2009. The family was now complete. Martin and Jenny loved living in Blaby, and before long they moved from Enderby Road, to their present house on Holly Grove.

Martin, Jenny and the children enjoyed so many lovely holidays; a lot of the time with friends and family. They loved their Haven caravan holidays when the kids were little and the abroad ‘all inclusive’ holidays in more recent years. Martin’s favourite being the Dominican Republic.

2012 was a difficult year for Martin and the family. He lost his mother in law Julie (next grave), and was first diagnosed with Medullary Thyroid Cancer in the March of this year. Then in September he lost his beloved mum Sue.

By 2013 Martin was told he was cancer free and he remained so for 6 years. During these years he spent so many fun and happy times doing all the things he loved. Particularly watching the children grow into amazing young people.

In 2016 Martin lost his Dad David, this was a devastating time for Martin and the whole family, a true Blick legend was no more. See if you can find him and his mum who’s ashes are buried together in the crematory section.

Martin’s cancer returned in 2019 and was given a terminal diagnosis in 2021. His grit and determination to see his children grow and spend as much time with Jenny as possible was inspirational to everyone who knew him. He sadly lost his battle in 2025.

Martin was a true family man and Jenny and his children meant so much to him.