Martin was born on 23rd September 1943 at Ealing, London, the only child of John and Gladys Ellis. He was christened at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster by Dr.W.E.Sangster who had a great influence on his life. When he was twelve years old, he became a chorister at the Temple Church in London under Dr George Thalben-Ball. Martin’s voice broke a year later so he used to assist GTB in the organ loft by turning pages. It was here that Martin’s love of church choral music and the organ began.
Martin went on to study at the Royal College of Music and he began his long career of playing organ recitals in many parts of the country. His first teaching post was as Director of Music at Cargilfield School in Edinburgh followed by two years at Dean Close Junior School in Cheltenham. Martin then moved into secondary education as Assistant Director of Music at Taunton School. It was during this period that Martin and Miriam were married.
Martin arrived in Dorking from Taunton in 1986 to take up the position of Director of Music at Reigate Grammar School. At the same time Martin was appointed Director of Music and Organist at St. Martin’s Church Dorking serving both Anglicans and Methodists for 28 years until his retirement and move to Ipswich in 2014.
As a Methodist Local Preacher Martin was at home as much in the pulpits of St Mary at Stoke, St Mary at the Elms and Christ Church Tacket Street as he was in the many Methodist pulpits he graced with his cogent and thoughtful sermons. Leading Evensong at St Mary-le-Tower was a joy for such an accomplished musician. But his long-standing, deep-rooted and properly infectious ecumenical heart wasn’t just liturgical. His was the driving force that established Churches Together in Ipswich Town Centre; his was the erudite and occasionally circumlocutory leadership of ecumenical Bible study groups. Nor were his endeavours local; his network of friends and relations was spread over the country, particularly but not exclusively in the Methodist Church and the Church of England. He yearned to see Christian churches not just worshipping God together but working together for the common good; he was indefatigable in pursuit of this.
Martin enjoyed taking counsel with his friends in many denominations and in many places, preferably over a meal, with a pudding. He was a stalwart of The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, having been a member since the early 1970s. Martin had a great love of music and was passionate in helping young people to achieve their potential. Martin loved organising large musical events – not without some stresses – and got everyone involved. Martin was President of the Suffolk Organists Association for the year 2017-18 and assumed the Presidency for the second time for the year 2019-20. He spent a lifetime teaching and nurturing young people, both in his academic career and in churches and had kept in touch with a large number of former pupils and protégés. Many of us are going to miss his wit, his wisdom, his terrible trademark jokes, his love of cake, chocolate and, sometimes, his acerbic observations! Sometimes his puns were indeed punishing.
It seems fitting to finish with one of Martin’s jokes.
One day Cinderella, an amateur photographer, took a roll of film to the chemist to be developed. A week later when she went to collect it, the chemist said he was sorry but the film wasn’t ready. A week later she tried again but the chemist said he had run out of toner so the film still wasn’t ready. A week later when she tried a third time, the chemist confessed he had lost the film. “Oh well,” Cinderella replied, “one day I suppose my prints will turn up!”
Following a short but aggressive illness and a spell in hospital Martin died peacefully at home on the afternoon of Thursday, 30th January 2020.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.