Very saddened to hear this news of Martin. Martin was the Chair for the University Research Degrees Award Board and I the Officer. I worked with Martin for approximately 10 years and over that period we built a good working relationship. Martin often told me about his dog walks and how he'd started swimming before work in 2023 - a New Year's Resolution by the sounds of it (I often wondered if he kept this up after he finished at UWE). He'd often ask me about my cycling adventures and we discussed are respective children and their journey's through education. A joyful memory was attending a lunchtime workshop many years ago and being very surprised to see that Martin was the guest presenter with his `bag of tricks'. He was attempting to teach us how to juggle balls and batons and I can remember watching in awe as he made it look so easy! On a more serious note Martin always took the time to specifically ask how you were and often reminded me (as I'm sure he did with others), to look after yourself, asking when I was next going on a bike ride - my great stress reliever. He reminded me one day when I told him `I was like a stick of rock with UWE running through me', that `rock also needed to be looked after or it would crack and shatter! ' My thoughts are with his family of whom he always talked fondly and enthusiastically of.