1927 - 2009

Bob was born and grew up in the Battlefield area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne through the 1930’s and during the Second World War. The Battlefield is immediately east of the city centre being bounded by the Tyne to the south, Byker to the west and Shieldfield to the north. The area is served by the lovely English Renaissance church of St Ann where Bob joined the choir as a boy soprano. His association with the church was to continue all his life.

On leaving school he was destined not for the coal mines or the heavy engineering of the shipyards, but Grubb-Parsons, the internationally famous firm of scientific instrument makers. During his Army Service he was to find himself in Brigstock in Northamptonshire helping to bring relief to the surrounding villages that were cut off by the snowdrifts in the severe winter of 1947. Bob certainly enjoyed this period in rural Northamptonshire, the memories of which he would often relate to me. It was a stark contrast to life on industrial Tyneside.

After National Service he returned to the North East and in 1953 he met Margaret at the "Oxford" which was a popular dancing venue in the centre of Newcastle. In 1957 they were married at Christchurch in the adjoining parish of Shieldfield and they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2007. He continued to work at "Grubbs" mainly concentrating on the production and polishing of high precision glass prisms, one of which adorns Margaret’s sideboard to this day. His skills were such that, towards the end of his career at "Grubbs" he was required to visit Las Palmas to "polish out" a blemish in the mirror of the new Herschel telescope that they had supplied. After "Grubbs" closed he spent seven years working in the offices of Eagle Star close to St John’s church in the city centre.

Bob’s introduction to ringing came through Margaret’s mother who was a regular worshipper at St John’s. In about 1970 there was a move to get ringing restarted here and a call for volunteers. This was to lead to a commitment to this church for the rest of his life. St John’s is the student tower and although their numbers have ebbed and flowed, as tower captain Bob gave continuity for almost the next 40 years. Although he did not progress in change ringing he was an excellent tenor ringer to Doubles and Triples methods, keeping a metronomic rhythm in the two peals and several quarter peals that he rang. His lasting contribution to ringing was the work he did in restoring and decorating the inside fabric of the tower, maintaining the bells including repairing clappers, fitting new stays as well as winding the clock on a weekly basis. Much of the above was carried out in the evenings after work and on one occasion the organist who had been informed Bob was in the tower forgot, went home and left him locked in the tower. He escaped through the tower window and over the roof! In addition to this practical work Bob also researched and produced an authoritative history of the bells.

Bob will perhaps be best remembered for his cheerful personality (he was always whistling) and relaxed manner, he had a rapport with everyone he met. During his retirement he worked with the Ouseburn Trust telling children of his experiences as a teenager in Newcastle during the wartime bombing raids and taking cover in the Victorian coal tunnel that was used as an air raid shelter.

His family, friends, colleagues and ringers filled St John’s on 30th January to say goodbye after his bravely fought battle with throat cancer. The wide range of hymns he had chosen for his funeral mass reflected his nature, faith and Christian belief. During the censing of his coffin the church resounded with the words from "Thine be the glory". As Bob left his beloved St John’s for the last time 81 blows were struck on the tenor followed immediately by a half muffled quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples. Also on that day quarter peals were organised by former Newcastle students at Nutfield in Surrey and St Mary’s Nottingham (see p.181). His passing was also marked with a peal at St Andrew’s, Roker (see p.225) and on 24th April a half-muffled peal of Yorkshire Surprise Major at St John’s. To Margaret we extend our sympathy and acknowledge that to have known and rung with Bob Martin was a privilege for which his friends and I will be always grateful.

Stephen B. Bell