Comments on: Message Book

By: Karin

Karin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:48:32 +0000

I still miss mijn goede vriend Martin, not for the wonderful things he made but for THE wonderful person he was. I am happy to have had such a special vriend in my life.

By: Mark Goble

Mark Goble — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:37:40 +0000

I had never met Martin, but I commissioned him to make a houndskull bascinet for me, which I believe is shown in the gallery of his work on this site. Martin was very helpful, kept me informed with the commission, and was a pleasure to do business with. When I received the bascinet, I was amazed at the craftmanship that had gone into making it, and the quality and style of the piece. To this day it remains my favourite piece of armour, and I am proud to own and display it.

By: Alan Crebbin

Alan Crebbin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:01:55 +0000

Really like this website – a suitable tribute to Martin. I’ve many happy memories of walking in all sorts of interesting places including the Nijmegen marches in the Netherlands. My mum got confused with all the Martins at College – 5 at the last count so he was known as Martin with ‘the boots.’

I always smile on one my favourite walks on the Isle of Man along to the Chasms from Port St. Mary as this is where he showed me an aircrash site from WWII.

He was one of those rare people who I rarely if ever heard say an unkind word about anyone.

I’ll always treasure his friendship in College days in Caerleon 93 – 96.

By: Peter Keen

Peter Keen — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:12:04 +0000

Every time we lose a member of the re-enactment fraternity it’s like losing a brother or sister. The Hartley Companie wish you well on your journey, Martin. Sub Hoc Signo Vinces.

By: Clare Whittam

Clare Whittam — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:34:19 +0000

I own the beautiful reproduction of a European Iron Age Helmet It is 8th in the gallery. Martin blued the metal for me and it is truly a work of art
I have added a horsehair tail
While I never met Martin, I think of him EVERY time I look at the helmet, which is proudly displayed in the living room when not on my head. I am going to inscribe his name and some details inside to ensure he remains permanently linked with this most beautiful object.
With greatest sympathy for your loss
Clare

By: Kevin Rolfe

Kevin Rolfe — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:32:49 +0000

Just found out.

Martin came to my engagement party and i believe he was at my Wedding.
We used to call him Martin “the nicest man in the world”. and he was.

what a shame.

By: Tim Coombs

Tim Coombs — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:25:52 +0000

I didn’t know Martin very well but met him a few times, mainly at his forge where I would be collecting medieval style arrowheads. I also spent an entertaining afternoon with him at Raglan Castle where he was exhibiting. He had a great way with the public, knowledgeable but very patient and a gentle humour.
He also made fine metalwork. I will miss him

By: Jeremy Spencer

Jeremy Spencer — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:29:58 +0000

I’m a longbowman and shoot a warbow. I met Martin at Caldicot Castle and was impressed with not only the quality of his work but also by what nice people Martin and his wife were. I asked him to make some arrowheads for me from a pattern and he did a beautiful job too. I remember he rang my house to talk about the spec and my wife answered and, apparently, he sounded just like her brother. She then had conversation with Martin thinking it was him and they both laughed when the penny dropped for her.
I didn’t know martin very well but I find it very touching and sad when I use the arrows. He struck me as a real gent.

By: mark kim and girls

mark kim and girls — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:47:43 +0000

i met martin a number of years ago and was bowled over by the quality of his stuff,then i built up a strong friendship. i used to spend hours over his workshop talking to him about just about everything. i know its been a while but its hard to put some things into words, to say i miss him is an understatement, miss you mate. god bless

By: Lindsey Hawker

Lindsey Hawker — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:50:41 +0000

I wanted to celebrate not only Martin but also to celebrate his wonderful wife Ally. They were such a good team brought together for a time to serve the community, the church and each other in a way that, to me, revealed there is a transcendent God working through the lives of ordinary people.

I so enjoyed their company as a peaceable couple, untainted by the consumerism around them. They were uncommonly ready to invest time in others, even though they also managed to get away from it all- Martin would withdraw to his forge and Ally to her graphic design work.

Both revealed very useful and creative talents and each had a consistent sense of humour and grace. Both took their cares, worries, fears, pain or guilt to the God who sacrificed His life so they would not be burdened by such things. Both cared a great deal that others too should enjoy lives free of these burdens and they chose to share the Gospel message of God’s strength, creativity, wrath, sacrifice and love whenever they could. This reassurance of faith hallmarked Ally’s emails to people throughout Martin’s experience of cancer and has continued through her loss and the rebuilding of her life.

Neither of them presumed upon God throughout Martin’s illness even though they knew God could heal Martin in a moment if it was right. They loved God and through the tough times now I still witness how Ally draws near through prayer to the God who brings her comfort and will one day reward her obedient affection.

I miss Martin’s experiments- I’ll never forget the time when he led Ally and I up a mountain (actually a big hill that felt like a mountain because of his enthusiastic climb). He wanted to test the Roman slingshot method he’d been researching and so he moulded some shots and ‘created’ what he thought was the contemporary sling.

We were all pretty clueless how to use them and each of us attempted to get the best angle and trajectory of throw, as well as the best grip on the sling.

Any small land mammal in the vicinity surely perished that day- there was no chance of the birds being affected. In fact, on a number of occasions the shots seemed to land at our feet despite the herculean efforts to send the shots soaring!

I truly can’t wait for us all to have even more fun in heaven than we have had here and I count it such a privilege to have known Martin and to continue to enjoy Ally’s friendship. Thanks so much for your care and love.