(Haileybury Domestic Estates Bursar 1980-85)
We are very sad to share the news of the passing of Russell Martin, who died on 14th July 2026, aged 92. We send our sincere condolences to Russell’s family. Russell was the first Domestic Estates Bursar to be appointed to the newly created role in 1980.
Russell’s OH daughter Sue Snowball (Ha & Alb 80) writes: Russell was born in Mansfield in 1933, and supported Mansfield Town football team there all his life. He moved to Portsmouth with his parents in 1950 where he attended Portsmouth Boy’s Grammar, and was commissioned into Sandhurst College in 1954. On a successful and distinguished completion, he took up a commission in The KIng’s Own Rifles regiment for a short while before finding his long-term military home in the RASC (Royal Army Service Corps), which then became the RCT (Royal Corps of Transport).
His first posting was to Berlin when it was still partitioned into 4 quarters after the second World War. He often talked about having to pass through Checkpoint Charlie to cross between the sectors. In the early 1960’s he was posted to the Malay peninsula, during the Malay uprising. Here he worked with and commanded a Gurkha regiment. He took his wife Denise (who was a qualified Physics and Science teacher) and his (then) small son Nick with him, on this posting. Following this he was posted back to Berlin and then onto Rinteln where I was born.
in 1967, he was posted to another conflict zone, Aden, where he worked in HQ with the legendary ‘Mad Mitch’, (Lt. Col Colin Mitchell- later a Conservative MP 1970-74). Stories of his time there under Mad Mitch were both gruesome and funny. He was unable to have his family with him during this time, due to the nature of the conflict. In Aden he was responsible for all personnel and troop movements in and out and all transport. He was on the very last transport out of Aden, which came under heavy fire. He talked fondly of his time working with the Special Forces there in particular, for whom he had the utmost respect and admiration for the work they carried out. He also said they threw the very best parties. After Aden he was posted to Northern Ireland during the troubles in the 1970s, where he was helicoptered in and out each week, from where his family then lived, in Yorkshire.
In 1979/1980 he retired from the Army and took up the newly created post at Haileybury, of Domestic Estates Bursar, working under Captain Bill Lapper, RN. Bill and Russell became good friends as did their wives. Sadly in 1981, Russell’s first beloved wife, Denise, passed away suddenly at the age of 49. This was a devastating time for Russell, Sue and Nick, but Haileybury wrapped its arms around the family and Russell stayed another 5 years, even finding love again with June, who worked in the Estates office. They married in 1985 and had a blessing in Haileybury’s chapel and a lovely, intimate wedding reception on site.
Russell then took up a post of Bursar at Farringtons Girls School in Chislehurst in Kent in 1985, before retiring at 65, in 1998. Russell and June then went to live full time in their home in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, which they had bought several years previously. In 2024 Russell suffered a catastrophic stroke which resulted in him moving permanently into a residential home in Long Sutton. His wife June had been battling cancer for many years and sadly died in March 2026. Russell died a few months later, peacefully with his loving family around him, saying their goodbyes.
If you would like further details of Russell’s funeral on 27th August or to make a donation to SSAFA, Russell’s long-time favourite charity in his name do please contact the Society in the first instance members@thehaileyburysociety.org