Michael Richard Robertson Martin was born in Ilford and educated at Brentwood School and the London Hospital. He graduated MB BS in 1965 and after house appointments embarked upon his surgical career, holding posts at his old teaching hospital and at the Westminster Children's Hospital and Cardiff. He took the FRCS in 1970. In 1977 he was appointed consultant surgeon to Maelor General Hospital, Wrexham. His qualities of thoroughness, kindness, and an easy identification with his little patients found their natural outlet when his earlier career took him along the path of paediatric surgery. These qualities, coupled with his unfailing good humour and dedication, inspired the utter confidence of all sorts and conditions of men when he returned to general surgery. He was a man with many interests outside surgery, notably sailing, music, and walking. He and his wife Gillian had three sons. He died on 29 March 1977 after a road accident. He was 35 years old.