The passing of a local icon

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Leslie George Martin (91), a true gentleman of Graaff-Reinet, died of cardiac failure in Cape Town on 23 July.

Known to many as 'Mr Les', he was respected in his community.

Martin was the eldest boy in a family of six children. His family struggled financially, worsened by the death of his father when he was a teenager.

He later trained as a teacher, and eventually moved to Parsonage Street Congregational Church School in Graaff-Reinet in the 1950s. He was appointed as principal at Lingcom Primary School in 1981 and retired in 1991.

"I owe all that I have achieved as an educator to Les, he set a wonderful example," said Edmund Carelse, the current Lingcom principal.

Martin was also an all-round sportsman. "Had he been born in a different era, he probably would've played for the Springboks," said his son Peter.

The highlight of Martin's sports career was when he was selected for the combined Western Province League in 1951.

Together with his wife Petronella, Martin was involved in local charity work, They were named Citizens of the Year by the Lions in 1991, and were married for nearly 70 years.

Martin served as a warden and on the council of the St James Church for years.

The Diocese of George presented him with a rare award for service to the church and appointed him an honorary councillor. He also chaired the boards of the hospital and the museum.

The Martins were among the first couples to contribute to the oral history project at the Graaff-Reinet Museum in 2007. Head of the Museum Anziske Kayster described their tale of forced removal from their home in town to Kroonvale, and their fight to receive compensation. The Martins described: "it was not enough to wipe away the pain and humiliation we suffered through the hands of the Apartheid Government. I pray that the Lord will take away all the bitterness that was the cause of great unhappiness."

Well-known figures such as Robert Sobukwe and Basil D'Oliveira were frequent visitors to Martin's home, but so too were many of the poor. Due to ill health, Martin and Petronella moved to Cape Town last year to live with Peter, and close to their daughter Roschelle. Peter said the time with his father was a privilege and described Martin as uncomplicated and compassionate.

Peter recounted how, when Martin was walking in Graaff-Reinet with one of his grandchildren, the boy asked: "Grandpa, why does everyone greet you?" To which the person talking to Martin replied, "Your grandfather helps everyone with whatever they need."