Tribute: George Martin

Gillian Franklin, Station Duty Officer: I have worked at Wendover Police Station now for over 8 years and if I had a pound for every time a member of the public that comes to the station, mentions Sgt George Martin’s name, a funny experience or that their son/daughter had a stern talking to from him I would be very rich. I had the pleasure of going over the old station duty occurrence books that had lots of entries in from George, his style of Policing would flow very well with our Policing pledge many years on. He will be very sadly missed but not forgotten.

Supt Richard List, LPA Commander, Aylesbury Vale: I can remember George both as a police officer and a local resident. George really was the Dixon of Dock Green of Wendover – the authentic local policeman. The people of Wendover, Weston Turville and the surrounding areas knew that George was there if they had any problems regarding crime or anti social behaviour. He was accessible, friendly and helpful to local people. When people thought of their local police, they thought of Sgt George Martin. This is what it’s all about. George will be sadly missed.

DI Paul Miller, Oxford: I worked with George for a number of years when I was a PC at Wendover. I remember this time as one of the happiest times of my service. George was a man with very firm views on policing and he would do what he could to pass on his experience to us all. In many ways his strong views on public service, police responsibility, victim focus and performance measurement were ahead of his time and have become the reality for many of us nearly twenty years on. He certainly influenced my thinking on policing and I have enormous respect for him. My lasting memory of George will be of him telling a funny story, then laughing loudly and all of us laughing with him.

Det Supt Gilbert Houalla, Major Crime: I will stop at nothing to pay tribute to the one man who has influenced me most in my career. As a French man I knew the British police was from the community and for the community. Sgt George Martin was a living example of that. He once pointed out to me that the community expected a lot from the police and we must be ready to serve. He had a deep sense of duty and loyalty to his Queen and country and never stopped teasing me about my Frenchness. In retaliation I was driven to painting the French flag on the bonnet of my Renault 4 and parking it right under the window of his office at Wendover, there were lots of laughs. There ought to be a George Martin in every Copper. I am proud to have served under him, I miss him dearly.