A FORMER teacher at Arnewood School, New Milton and secretary and moderator of the Southern Regional Examinations Board has died at the age of 83.

Alan Martin was appointed head of English soon after his arrival in 1963 and remained there until his retirement in 1989. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, Alan was educated at the local grammar school. After completing military service he graduated as a secondary teacher of English, with a merit in French, from the University of London’s Borough Road College.

He took up a position in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, a comfortable motorbike ride away from his hometown where he was heavily involved in amateur dramatics. As a young man, one of Alan’s early triumphs was winning the Northamptonshire County Tennis mixed doubles, after which he had tea with Princess Elizabeth, now our Queen. At the first night of the Desert Song at Central Hall, Kettering, Alan fell in love with his future wife Angela. They had never even spoken before but, just before curtain up, he said: “Break a leg! Good luck!” and kissed her, paving the way for a marriage lasting 55 years.

Before long, he started his own amateur dramatic society, which employed professional directors from London’s West End to guide early productions, which included Rosemarie, Good Night Vienna and New Moon.

Relocating to Hampshire in 1963 was the start of his career at Gore Road Secondary, which later became Arnewood School.

He also ran Hordle Church youth club, sang bass in the church choir, organised sailing trips for youngsters at Calshot and Keyhaven and played trumpet and trombone in Lymington Military Band.

The talented father-of-two loved performing, producing and directing plays and musicals, even writing his own. But he never blew his own trumpet and was a modest man who always had a self-deprecating response when anyone paid him a compliment.

In his retirement Alan taught English, became a Liberal Democrat councillor in Bournemouth, tended the stunning gardens at his family’s homes, in Highcliffe and later in Bournemouth, and went on countless cruises and holidays all over the world.

He kept his French and German ticking over at evening and day classes in Christchurch and was able to dedicate much more time to family and friends, enjoying trips, outings and lunches. In the last four weeks of his life Alan received outstanding care at Salisbury and the Royal Bournemouth Hospitals but sadly succumbed to an infection and died on April 23 with his family at his bedside.

A celebration of Alan’s life was held on May 3 at St Mark’s Church, Parley Cross.