Man who went from a caravan to a manor (From Cotswold Journal)

Man who went from a caravan to a manor

10:45am Thursday 9th July 2009

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TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who began married life living in a caravan with just £1 to his name but went on to buy one of the finest manor houses in the Cotswolds.

Charles Somerville Martin, who died on Wednesday, June 22, aged 79, owned Maugersbury Manor, near Stow. He came from a long line of Vale of Evesham market gardeners.

However, it was as a hay and straw haulier in 1960 that he bought Maugersbury Manor, which was in need of repair and attention, having been left empty for six years. With his wife Lily, whom he married in 1954, he set to work returning the manor to its former glory.

Mr Martin was well known across the Cotswolds, and was often described as “a character”. His daughter Karen said: “He was a very popular man and left his mark wherever he went. Once on holiday he decided to visit his friends in the next room, he climbed over the balcony – a few storeys high – wearing only a string vest.

“He will be missed but his memory will live on with his wife, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandson and all his many friends.”

In his youth Mr Martin was a keen rugby player and also enjoyed grass-track racing and speedway. He also followed his son Dean into motorcycle racing, racing both locally and on the Isle of Man.

But his greatest passion was horse racing. With his wife, he owned point-to-pointers and later Arab horses, which they raced with some success.

Mr and Mrs Martin had three children: Dean; Paula and Karen. He also had four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

He was buried at St Edward’s Church, Stow, on Thursday, next to his son Dean, who died in 2003.

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