I was born in Southampton in 1953, educated at Freemantle Juniors, King Edward VI School and the University of London, where I gained B.SC Econ. Later I gained an MA from the Open University.
My working life was in further and higher education.
I also had a parallel career in music, playing keyboards in many local bands and still do the occasional gig.
I suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2017.
I am a father of two – a son and a daughter who now have their own families.
I became a qualified tour guide in 2014 and enjoy writing articles and books.
As well as contributing to In Common, I have written 6 published books available from Amberley Publishing.
They are: Secret Southampton, A to Z of Southampton, Celebrating Southampton, Secret New Forest, Southampton: A Potted History and an A to Z of Romsey.
I’m a lifelong Saints fan. In 2024 I was proud to be made a Southampton Ambassador.
Read more from Martin:
Review: Welsh National Opea: Cose Fan Tute, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Applause review: Wilde: Scenes of love and power, BBV Theatre Company, November 2
Heritage: School reunions – the past is a foreign country
Applause review: Return to Freemantle – Freemantle & Shirley Amateur Theatrical Society
Applause! In Common launches new section to celebrate amateur dramatics and more
Review: An Inspector Calls, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Heritage: a look at Freemantle, Southampton
Heritage: Maundy Gregory, a cash for honours scandal and a link to The Beatles
The arrival of Basque refugee children to Southampton 85 years ago was remembered at a ceremony at the weekend
Heritage: Southampton and the Basque children
Review: Cluedo at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Review: WNO Don Giovanni, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Southampton’s Speakers’ Corner
From The Beatles to Warhorse: Southampton’s Mayflower theatre
Book Review: Southern Roots, part 1: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Story (1958-1972) by David St John
Matchgirls strikes: women unite and fight
Opinion: Cycle lane debates need compromise, not politicisation
Southampton: a tale of two universities
The Southampton doorstep portraits project
Opinion: Life after lockdown
10 reasons to be cheerful about Southampton
Looking back on Southampton’s historic music scene
How historical pandemics have affected Southampton
Entertainment review: Million Dollar Quartet, Mayflower Theatre Southampton
The big Southampton Christmas quiz
My NHS Story: Free at the point of need
