Martin retired at the end of 2005 from a career as a Chartered Patent Agent and European Patent Attorney, having been a partner in a Nottingham firm for 10 years before becoming a consultant to the firm and gradually bowing out.

This involved dealing with all aspects of patents for clients throughout the world, from writing them, through persuading the Patent Office to grant a patent and to defending them against attack by others. A further aspect involved advising on patent infringement and other aspects of intellectual property law, for example registered designs, trademarks and some aspects of copyright.

Martin plays the horn (a complete change from his working life) and first played in the Charnwood Orchestra many years ago under its founding Conductor, Joe O'Reilly, but only became a regular member in 2003. He regrets that he has only recently become a regular member because, as well as playing of a high standard under a Conductor who makes all of the rehearsals interesting, the Orchestra is very sociable.

Martin has played in many of the orchestras of Leicestershire, and was the 1st horn of Leicester Symphony Orchestra for many years, a position from which he retired in 2004; he is currently a member of the Bardi Symphony Orchestra, the Rutland Sinfonia and the Oadby & Wigston Orchestra, as well as the Charnwood Orchestra. He also plays in several chamber music groups.

Martin's wife, Olive, is not a musician and, as their family grew up and left home, Olive and Martin looked for a hobby that they could enjoy together. Having spent several family holidays on hired narrow boats, they realised that boating was ideal and so bought their own boat, on which they spend a lot of time.

Martin and Olive live in Rearsby, a village in which they have lived for over 30 years; this is at the edge of Charnwood Borough and it takes about 20 minutes to get to rehearsals.

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