A tribute to Sandy Martin (From Swindon Advertiser)

A tribute to Sandy Martin

7:23pm Tuesday 22nd March 2011

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Written by David Latham

My own professional radio career started in 1989 when I was approached by BBC Wiltshire Sound (later BBC Wiltshire) programmes director Alan Thompson to join the new beeb team after a long stint in Hospital Radio Swindon. During the 90s I presented a string of different weekend shows and became a regular voice at the station. After a few years away from radio I returned to the station as producer for BBC Children in Need in the county and had the pleasure of organising the main on air events for the station from 2000 – 2004.

Sandy Martin had moved to the BBC station after a successful career at commercial radio and was always an enthusiastic supporter of Pudsey Bear - producing with his colleagues excellent fundraisers prior to the big day in November.

It is well known that Sandy had always a smile and warm greeting for everyone he met and thoroughly lapped up every minute of his radio work. But I also had the opportunity to appreciate the serious side of the professional. From conversations with my own friends and acquaintances I frequently would hear how he would visit friends and neighbours going through a tough time in their lives and in the last 12 months of his life I was delighted by his interest in the Swindon Mindful Employer Network.

Through his support of our annual conference last year and on air interviews with him about the initiative it is clear he understood the importance of a supportive culture in the workplace – believing that people are the key to a successful organisation. Dignity and mutual respect is vital at work.

The last time I saw Sandy was at the Swindon Marriott for the two year network celebration last October with guest speaker Lord Carey of Clifton (former Archbishop of Canterbury). He arrived early to put up the BBC Wiltshire display banners and carry out an interview with guest speakers. I remember so well the warm greetings to former BBC colleague James Harrison and myself as we were setting up the conference room and happy memories of our lively conversation together – see the photo by James taken at this event. His radio interview with Lord Carey was excellent ! I was given a copy as a memento of the occasion.

Those were happy days !

Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

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