David Laurence “Larry” Martin 1933-2021
Afloat.ie Tribute To David Laurence “Larry” Martin 1933-2021
We have lost an incredible friend with the passing of Larry Martin. I first met him through sailing many moons ago and was immediately struck by what an obvious and true gentleman he was. He had endless and extraordinary stand-apart qualities; his lifetime achievements were many, but few were ever spoken about by the humble person that he was.
An always-on character, he never repeated himself and retained his title throughout his life of 87 years as the master of the one-liner – his ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ dead-pan witticisms were one-offs, and brought echoes of laughter wherever he went.
Cruising onboard with Larry was always highly entertaining; even in the worst weather conditions, he always remained poised and ready for a laugh. It was during these sailing expeditions in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia that I first appreciated the singular organiser/researcher dynamic between himself and his wonderful wife Ann B.
Their seamless, spirited and often self-deprecating interactions always brought a unique hilariousness to these ventures, making them truly unforgettable to anyone lucky enough to be in their company.
The Royal St George YC – Larry Martin joined in the late 1950s, and when he became Commodore in 1980 at the age of 47, he was the youngest to have filled the role
He was contagious. Larry loved people. For those less fortunate than himself, he was generous to a fault. His kindnesses were many, and quietly done. He never spoke about any of them. In fact, he would rarely even speak about himself, with a handful of exceptions, of course:
“As you know”, he said one evening, “I was sent to boarding school in my teens, at Ampleforth. As a result, I ended up with this rather plummy accent. Over there, I was considered a Paddy, whereas over here, I’m often considered to be a blow-in. When I tell people that I was born here, they often look at me in disbelief. When I started working as a Chartered Surveyor in Dublin”, he recalled with considerable amusement, “I would be wheeled out to meet the visiting dignitaries”.
On these infrequent occasions of self-revelation, he might slip into priceless autobiographical detail: “When I retired from the practice, I decided that I would realise a lifelong ambition to fly, so I took lessons. I got the feeling, however, that the instructors thought that I had flown with the RAF and was trying to get my license back. I really hope I don’t look that old!”
In a distinguished professional career as a Quantity Surveyor, Larry Martin was senior partner in DL Martin & Partners, with a long list of varied contracts which included this famous temporary roof put over Westport House in Mayo to facilitate a restoration, with conservation being one of the Partnership’s many specialties
Although he reached solo flying capability, a medical issue prevented him from continuing, and so he and Ann B decided to start walking in the Wicklow Hills. As usual, the walking group grew, and ultimately their walking horizons expanded to include Italy and the Tuscan Hills. It was always the company of his friends that made these walks for Larry.
In his earlier days, he developed a keen interest in motorcycling, taking part in a long list of international trials and events, including a trial in Czechoslovakia in the early 1950’s, which was then behind the Iron Curtain. However, with the Suez crisis in 1956, he ran out of fuel and happily for the sailing community, he was persuaded to try wind power.
Larry Martin in 1984
He approached sailing with the same enthusiasm as his biking and quickly developed a passion for the sport, which continued for the remainder of his life. He joined the Royal St George YC and began sailing initially in dinghies, moving into the Dragon class, and in later years, racing J/24s. Fortunately, the wonderful Ann B enjoyed the on-shore element of sailing just as much, and so ‘The George’ became a home away from home for the fun-loving pair.
Having started in dinghies, when Larry Martin moved into keelboats his first command was in the International Dragon Class in Dublin Bay
As was true to his character, he became fully immersed in the club, not only with extensive racing but also with the social and administrative aspects. It was no surprise then – when he was elected Commodore of the Club in 1980 at the age of 47 – that he was at the time the youngest Commodore ever elected in the long history of the club.
Few will now remember that it was he, as Commodore, who first introduced the concept of women being eligible for full membership of the Club. He managed to start a movement that ultimately resulted in the necessary changes to the Rules some years later when he was a Trustee.
Larry Martin’s most dedicated campaigning was with the J/24s in Dublin Bay
He was a very competitive sailor, but in later years, raced more for the fun and companionship than to win. He was very loyal to his crew, and they of course loved their Thursday evening races, while his last few years saw his involvement afloat continued with regular and much-appreciated service on the DBSC Committee Boat.
In his professional life, his growing Partnership was noted for the interest in unusual challenges to which it was prepared to bring the specialised skills which they usually deployed in more orthodox major projects, while among his peers his talents were recognised with the Fellowship of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, where he served as Chairman for several years.
For home and family life, Hollybrook Cottage was ‘The house that Larry built’ for his family of five children, who were quite literally the centre of his universe. As you might expect, it became – and stayed – a bustling haven of spontaneous hospitality.
Even when well into his eighties, Larry Martin continued to be much involved afloat with regular service on the DBSC Committee Boat.
Like many others in these extraordinary times, we did not have the opportunity to bid Larry a proper and fitting farewell as he embarked on his last voyage. However, he selected a prayer to be read at his funeral, and I feel that the last sentence of that prayer, in particular, sums up Larry’s approach to life and why he will be missed so much, and by so many:
“Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places
And talent in unexpected people,
And give me O Lord,
The grace to tell them so.”
To Ann B and to his children Andrea, Caroline, Gerard, Brian, and Gillian, and extended family both here, in England and in Australia, we give our heartfelt sympathy for their great loss.
I will miss him.
AOB
This article was published in Afloat.ie on April 9th 2021
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