Richard George Martin

02.12.1942 - 17.08.2023

Funeral Service Information

Funeral Service at King’s Lynn Minster on Tuesday, 12 September, 2023 at 3:00 pm followed by cremation at Mintlyn Crematorium.

Funeral Home: TFS - Kings Lynn

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Total raised:

745

Total excludes offline donations

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Such a gentleman.

Bill and Rachel Lewis

In memory of a good friend no more chats together or meeting on the bus

Stanley Watkinson

In memory of Richard who I never had the pleasure of getting to know. By all accounts that was was my loss.

John La Gette

With very fond memories of Richard, and appreciation of all the work he did for the New Bridge Foundation, a charity whose Volunteers write to and visit people in prison

Katharine Sathe

A friend of many years.

Pam & Derek Robinson

In memory of an old and valued friend

David Robertson Wood

We both have memories of Richard, going back many years.

Ernie & Ann Foreman

A good ole boy as they say in Norfolk...kindness, warmth and strength of character...a reliable colleague and advocate for those less fortunate and a keen supporter/organiser of the Edridge charity.

David Butterworth

In loving memory of Richard a true, caring and steadfast friend.

Hazel Brookeman

In memory of Richard who made the world a kinder place.

Carol Jennings

For so many years Richard was the heart and soul of the Edridge Fund. I was always proud to work with him and carry on the work after he retired. He helped us modernize and restructure the Charity on the point of his retirement. He will be very missed by all of us,

David Cox

Richard gave so tirelessly of his time and kindness and will be missed by many amongst his friends in Napo

Nicki and Mick

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Richard approximate age 60

Rev'd Sue Martin

As I have said many times, no one was more dedicated to the Probation charity The Edridge Fund than Richard, and it was my privilege to work with him for many years . The photo shows him getting a gift of appreciation from the Fund, and Napo when he finally retired. A lovely man, who will be sorely missed.

Anne King

I remember happy times at the end of the eighties/early nineties coaching young Pelicans under Richard's enthusiastic dedication as Pelicans Youth Organiser. This photo taken at Pelis' awards night appeared in the Lynn News on 27th April 1990. A good man and a very proud father ... not least of his boys' achievements on the hockey pitch.

Sid Arkle

Richard and his brother Mickey had a special bond and love for each other. He always cared for him and made sure he was well looked after. They shared the same hilarious sense of humour too.

Rev'd Sue Martin

Richard made the world a kinder place. He will be missed.

Carol Jennings

Fond memories of being put through my paces by Richard in the 80's and 90's Big Character and The very best coach I feel lucky to have known him xxx

Stuart Beales

Fond memories of a precious lifelong friend. Rest in peace, dearest Richard.

Heather Franklyn

Richard, a colleague and friend with strength of character, good humour, integrity and above all, kindness

David Butterworth, King's Lynn Probation and PPU Norfolk

Richard will be remembered as being a good friend who was always willing to be involved in community activities and charitable causes, he battled adverse health for many years with courage and hope and that will live on and inspire me forever. He was a dear friend and will be sorely missed.

Charles Muff

Richard and I had thirty four wonderful years of life together. He was full of love for everyone with a sense of compassion beyond belief. I will miss him every day and cherish the love we shared so completely. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Rev'd Sue Martin

Eulogy for Funeral service at King’s Lynn Minster 12.9.23 Thank you all for coming today to be with us at this deeply sad time. It is a huge comfort for me and all the family. People have travelled many miles today and friends are praying with us in faraway places including Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Tasmania, and Vancouver. Richard has left behind enormous memories and love, shared with us all. His family of whom he was immensely proud and loved deeply are here today. Myself, the boys, Chris, Tim and Will, and their wives, Laura, Vicky and Mary, my children, Becca and Seth, his grandchildren, Zac, Bella, Noah, Josh, Arthur, Olive, Monty and Emily, Livvie, Eve, and Trixie, are honoured by all that Richard gave in love, kindness, compassion, and spirit. As a father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, he was hugely dependable and supportive, always staying in touch by cards, letters, phone calls and emails. He was a man of enormous character, kind, generous, loving, humble, passionate, inspirational, adventurous, and courageous, a strong and devoted Christian. He would support everyone to do of their best and to live life in all its fullness. He had a deep love for people, he was never happier than when meeting with friends, family or anyone who cared to stop and have a conversation. His life story is intriguing. He was born during the Second World War, on December 2nd,1942 second son to Doris and George in Cranham, near Hornchurch in Essex. He had an older brother Peter (whose son John is here today). His father worked in the post war development of Dagenham and Havering estates, as a surveyor and planner. In 1950, Richard’s younger brother Mickey was born, quite a surprise, and with Downs Syndrome. Richard’s father set up organisations to support others with similar conditions, working tirelessly, but sadly he died of a heart attack about two years later. This was devastating for the family and changes had to be made. Richard was supported by the Freemasons to attend the Royal Masonic Boarding School for Boys, who had lost their fathers. Mickey was taken into care, Doris returned to work earning some money. This was extremely hard. Richard supported Mickey for his 56 years. He was a huge character, with very little language and many disabilities, but his light came shining through. Richard talked with great fondness of his friends, the sport, and his time at the school, often tinged with difficult aspects of a boarding school in the late 1950’s. He went on to become an ace at sports and captained the rugby and cricket teams, was Deputy Head Boy. Sport was a deep love, and I must mention West Ham United! On leaving school he went into sales, from carpets to welly boots. With his gift of engaging with people he did well but did not always feel it was right for him. He lived at home and joined Romford Hockey Club. Around 1969, he went on holiday with friends to the South of France. There was an incident with a café owner about a disabled man who was not allowed in the cafe. This led Richard to some very bizarre actions, including swimming across a bay and stealing a lorry. Eventually, he was arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act, being kept in a mental hospital in France for a month. He returned to England, to St Thomas’s hospital London, where he started on Lithium, continuing every day for 50 years. He recuperated in Gloucestershire staying with a lifelong friend and worked on a farm. His condition was what we now call Bipolar. This was a difficulty he bore throughout the rest of his life and did his best to let people know that it is possible to live a normal life with Bipolar. When recovered he decided to become a Probation Officer embarking on a CQSW at Bristol University. He met his first wife, Hilary, and they married in 1976. Chris was born in 1978, followed by Tim in 1980 and Will in 1982. They moved to Norfolk in 1980, Richard joining Norfolk Probation Service to start the Community Service in King’s Lynn. Later he worked in the Family Courts, then the Youth Offending Team. Richard and I(Sue) started our lives together through a very difficult time. We married in 1991 and moved to Gayton, worshipping at the Minster. Richard’s faith was a strength. He was churchwarden here during the time of Rev’d Bill Hurdman helping to install the peace globe at the back of the church. Please do light a candle today for those you love. Richard’ s health was a problem and in the late 1990’s, he had a pacemaker fitted following two heart attacks. Determined to continue, we had many adventures and travels, including California, Canada, Jamaica, Barcelona Olympics, Mallorca, and a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2015. Richard was always busy. He was an important part of many organisations including, NAPO, Edridge benevolent fund, Newbridge, writing and visiting prisoners, Pelicans Hockey Club, Kings Lynn Food Bank, Gaywood Valley Conservation Group, St John’s church, Gayton PCC and Neighbourhood Plan and others too! In 2015 Richard was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He had a stoma which he dealt with stoically. He was on about twenty-five pills a day for various conditions. To thank God for the extra years he was given he walked part of the Compostela de Santiago Way pilgrimage. In 2016 we built our new house, The Gables, a huge project, which he loved. In 2020 to 2022, during Covid Richard found the isolation and vulnerability of his health tough, missing helping others and his health had deteriorated. In June this year we visited Chris, Tim and Will and families in their homes and Richard was so pleased to have done this. He thought the world of his family. Ten weeks ago, we were watching a 20/20 county cricket game at Old Trafford, Manchester, He was there with a beer in his hand and applauding loudly. Good memories. So it was with huge sadness that in July this year he fell and went to QEH, where he died peacefully three weeks later, despite the care and tests that all the amazing medical teams could do. As a strong Christian Richard was never afraid of leaving this world and looked happily to the future life in heaven with his brother, friends, and Jesus, standing on the shore of Lake Galilee calling him to his side. We shall all remember Richard for the full and gregarious character, and loving person he was. Full of love for all his family and for all those he met. May we think of him often and fondly, with deep affection and love, with a smile on our faces and love in our hearts, he really made a difference. Amen

Rev'd Sue Martin

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We would like to express our thanks for Thornalley's excellent service and the care they took over my husband's funeral. Everyone we spoke and dealt with were very professional and caring and made a very sad time that much more bearable. We would have no hesitation in recommending their services.

Marguerite Morris