The Haileybury Society is saddened to learn of the death of Richard Frederick Ffulke Martin (A 46), who has died at the age of 86 at Romsey, in the county of Hampshire.

Richard was the son of Revd. F W Martin, the former Archdeacon of Nagpur and his wife Lillian, whose own family had been the proprietors of the furniture and depository business Humphreys of Southsea. He was born on 22nd October 1932 in Shedfield, Hampshire, in the vicarage of St John the Baptist. His sister Margaret was born the following year.

A love of cricket born in Haileybury

The 1930s were spent in rural Hampshire before Richard attended prep school in Malvern before joining Allenby in 1946, where he remained until 1950. He enjoyed his time at Haileybury and in particular recalled Prime Minister Clement Attlee, one of the school’s most notable alumni, presenting prizes and delivering speeches to the pupils. It was at Haileybury that he also gained his great love of rugby and, in particular, cricket – later becoming a keen member of the MCC and Hampshire CCC.

After school, Richard completed national service in the Royal Artillery. He was quickly made Lance Bombardier – chiefly for his school cadet force experience. He served briefly in post war Germany – a trip which was to be his first and last abroad for many years.

A career in banking

On his return to Britain, he settled in Ealing, West London; initially harbouring ambitions of sports journalism and (from time to time) the church. However, Richard then joined the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China at Bishopsgate in the city of London – (latterly The Standard Chartered Bank), an institution he went on to serve for some 35 years. Meanwhile, his parents has moved to Norfolk, with Richard becoming a Norwich City football club as a result.

Church of Christ the Saviour

It was now that Richard also became a member of the congregation of the church of Christ the Saviour in Ealing Broadway. There was an active youth club which gave rise to several marriages – including his own, to Joanna Richens in 1956, resulting in the birth of two daughters and twin boys. He also stood once for Ealing Council in the Greenford Ward and, against trends, increased the vote share for his party whilst not achieving election.

Tragedy but new happiness

Tragically Joanna was struck with cancer and died in 1965. However, it was when holidaying as a single parent at a Christian retreat in the late 1960s, that Richard met Sue Tuffin, then the matron of Salisbury Cathedral Choir School and they married in 1969. They welcomed their daughter, who was born in 1970.

Richard continued to travel to the city on the Central Line and throughout had maintained his devotion to Christ the Saviour. He became a governor and ultimately chairman of the governors of its associated schools, playing a key part in the foundation of the long-awaited secondary school for the Borough. He was once described as “the best chairman we have had” – courteous to a fault, attentive to the teaching staff, parents and fellow governors alike. Dedicated to service, he also became a lay-celebrant assisting the clergy and taking services on Sundays and frequently in the week – before commuting to the city.

Retired – yet tireless devotion to service

In 1987, Richard retired from the bank and took on the post of financial advisor to the Bishopric of Stepney, serving under Bishops; Thompson, Chartres and Sentamu. He enjoyed this role and became what his family call “a chilled out – dressed down kind of guy”, recognising the city banker “vibe” was not going to resonate with his new friends and colleagues in the East End, despite Haileybury’s connections to the area.

Retirement in their native Hampshire didn’t mean and end to Richard’s rich and varied life; a keen Times Crossworder and quiz genius, he even took part in the TV quiz show “Fifteen to One” – winning his heat. Now a member of the MCC he also enjoyed many trips to Lords and to the Rose Bowl to watch Hampshire.

He and Sue also enjoyed some exciting holidays, visiting Canada, The Holy Land and taking several P&O cruises. It was to be on their 40th anniversary cruise in 2009 that a stroke was to deprive Richard of – not only his voyage to the West Indies but also the sight of one eye. His journey culminated in a hospital bed in The Azores.But life carried on at the cottage in the Abbey environs at Romsey where the couple had become active congregants. Sue took care of Richard as his health began to decline.

A proud Haileyburian returns to his roots

Richard was a credit to Haileybury and fondly remembered his time there, proud to be an alumnus. A thoughtful and dutiful Christian gentleman, whose faith survived the tragic losses of his beloved first wife and daughter Elizabeth – a law graduate in her prime and Clerk to the Justices at Acton Crown Court – both to cancer in their early thirties.

Fittingly, Richard’s ashes are to be returned to the Hampshire soil in sight of the very rectory of his birth, in a ceremony to be conducted by the present vicar of St. John the Baptist – a successor to his own father.