Martin Strawson's Memorial Website

I met Martin in summer of 1995, as we were about to start the Year in Industry together. We made friends at the first course in Pershore, where Martin and Iain tried hard to out-eat each other at meal times, and we were pleased to discover we would both be going to Churchill College together. Martin worked at Shell (he thought the free lunches might catch up with his waistline on hitting the big 3-0, and I was at Zeneca. We would go gigging, eating and drinking in Liverpool and Chester, really enjoying being independent for the first time. He was a great shoulder to cry on, when I needed someone to be humiliated at!
After we started at Churchill, I spent the first few weeks with Martin trying to reassure him that everyone else found the work hard as well. Sharing my bottle of cooking sherry on a late Thursday evening, after what had been a particularly hard day for both of us, with hindsight, wasn't the smartest idea we'd ever had.
We kept in touch through Martin's year off, and his time at Birmingham. My sister was at Birmingham, and Martin's friends were well impressed when they saw each other at the Guild and started to chat - they were impressed by his pulling prowess!
I visited Martin often in hospital in 2002, and was so pleased when he could make it to my wedding in 2003. We kept in touch through his times in Cardiff, Sheffield and back in Birmingham, and I was so pleased to hear that things were going well for him.
Reading through our last email, I am heartbroken to know that he will never get the chance to travel to China and practise his Mandarin skills. I will miss him terribly. Sara Christie

I was deeply shocked to hear the news of Martin’s untimely death, I had spent a day with him helping to tidy his garden only a short time ago. I was delighted when Martin returned to Birmingham a year ago. Since buying his home and achieving such success at the University –I think he was probably the happiest I had ever seen him.We had spent the day gardening and chatting about the next steps in his career, he had made some vegetable pakoras for lunch –following on from his Indian cookery cause. He also shared with me his favourite books for my holiday reading list.The last time I saw Martin we did simple thinks –but things which I will always have fond memories of. I was so honoured and proud to count Martin as a friend. His infinite interest in people and endless search for knowledge were awesome in every respect. We spent many an evening just talking often for hours over a dinner and a good bottle of wine. He was always one thought or action ahead of me and always patience for thisAt Martins 30^th birthday party how many people loved and respected him. Martin was such a good friend in every possible sense. Over the years he never forgot a birthday or Christmas card-always the one to keep in touch and truly value the friendships he had. Martin was quite simply one of the most special people I have ever met. I will miss him dearly and remember him fondly. Catherine Little

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