Fred Walker Martin 1
- Born: 16 Aug 1910 1
- Marriage (1): Kate Mary Stewart on 30 Sep 1950 in Presbyterian Church, Krugersdorp, Rsa 1
- Died: 05 Jan 1988, Plettenberg Bay, Rsa at age 77
- Buried: Cremated Port Elizabeth, Rsa
General Notes:
Fred Martin - Knysna Plett Herald Thu 21 Jan 1988. By Donald Anderson and Alett McKenzie
We do feel qualified and honoured to write this obituary having had the priviledge to have served as Town Clerk and Town Clerk's Secretary respectively with the late Mr Fred Martin as Mayor for many years and as a member of the Plettenberg Bay Municpal Council for the record period of 20 odd years.
Mr Martin and his family took up residence in Plettenberg Bay in 1955 and as a Master Muilder he took the greatest pride in his work and found true satisfaction in erecting many beautiful homes which will always stand to his credit.
He was elected Mayor on six occasions - a position which he always held with marked dignity. During his first term of office as Mayor in 1963 he presented the town with it's coat-of-arms. Many will remember the pleasant evening know as "Switch On" on 27 November 1964 when his wife Kate, then Mayoress, officially switched on the town's first electricity scheme - the suitably engraved official switch is in operation in their home. A specially erected light stands in front of the Municipal Offices which illuminates the plaque to commemorate this occasion.
Mr Martin, as Mayor, opened the first public market in Plettenberg Bay - the Formasa Farmers Market in 1965 by purchasing the first item of produce auctioned, a bunch of carrots adorned with a royal blue ribbon, for the all-time record of R8!
In 1966 as mayor he officially opened the first supermarket in the town - "Monk's Supermarket" - and in 1977 performed the official opening of the town's first home industry = "Make and Bake". In 1978 he opened the first National Sea Rescue Station on the Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay.
Every year, as Mayor, at Christmas time Clr Martin would send his children to the Municipal Offices with a basket containing small Christmas gifts, individually wrapped and bearing the names of every member of the whole Municipal staff.
The highlight of his service as Mayor was the celebration of the town's bicentenary in 1978 when he addressed a large gathering at the first ever Jet Fly Past to have been held at Plettenberg Bay.
His health had been failing for the past few years - he died seventy eight years on 5th January 1988. A well attended memorial service was held at St Peter's church in Plettenberg Bay in the morning, when the Municipal flag flew at half mast at the Town Offices as a mark of respect.
He was cremated in Port Elizabeth in the afternoon at a private family service. It was his wish for his ashes, in time, to be scattered by his children together with those of his wife on signal Hill at Plettenberg Bay, which is close to their home and where their children Roger and Helen used to play.
Mr Martin made his mark in the annals of the municipality of Plettenberg Bay.
Those who had the pleasure to have known and served with him, will always remember him.
research Check
#703/1936
#1069/1956
#327/1949, TAB, 1949, ILLIQUID CASE. DIVORCE. FRED WALKER MARTIN VERSUS ANNA CHRISTINA MARIA MARTIN (BORN KOCK).
#237/1967, NAB, 1967, VAN ROOYEN, PHILIPPUS MARTHINUS JACOBUS. BORN IN BETHLEHEM. S SP VAN ROOYEN, ANNA CHRISTINA MARIA. FORMERLY MARTIN. BORN KOCK. 1
Fred married Kate Mary Stewart, daughter of George Miller Stewart and Gladys Minna Mary Homan Scott, on 30 Sep 1950 in Presbyterian Church, Krugersdorp, Rsa.1 (Kate Mary Stewart was born on 10 May 1920 1 and died in 2003.)
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