Somerset are mourning the sad loss of John Martin who passed away last month in hospital at the age of 82.

 

John was born in Oxford on 23rd December 1941 and went to Magdalen College School in Oxford. A talented all round sportsman he captained the First XI and played Minor County cricket for Oxfordshire while he was still at school.

The right arm fast medium bowler was offered a place at Edmund Hall Oxford, where he won blues at cricket and hockey.

He won the first of his cricket blues in 1962 and captained Oxford University in 1965. Over the winter of 1965-6 John went on the MCC tour to South America.

Between 1962 and 1965 John played in 38 first class matches for Oxford University in which he took 90 wickets at an average of 28.57, with a best of seven for 26.

John Martin first came to the attention of Somerset in 1961 when he was playing for Oxfordshire  against Somerset Seconds  in which he opened the bowling and took four wickets for 52 in the first innings.

Between 1962 and 1966 he then played regularly for Somerset Seconds.

John played in two county championship matches, the first in July 1964 against Hampshire at Taunton where opening the bowling with Ken Palmer he took three for 59 in the first innings, which included the wicket of Roy Marshall.

His second appearance was 12 months later against Glamorgan at Neath when he bowled 16 overs for 33 runs in a match in which only 45 overs of play was possible.

Away from cricket John Martin had a long and successful career as a schoolmaster joining the staff at Wellington College in Berkshire in 1966 where he remained until he retired as deputy head in 2002.

There will be a Service of Thanksgiving for John’s life at Wellington College Chapel on Saturday 28th September at 11am.