Widow's nostalgia trip

A SEVENTY-year-old widow made a 1,000 mile round trip from the Isle of Bute in Scotland to present villagers in Newick with a memorial to her late husband.

Jean Martin presented Newick Horticultural Society with the Robert Martin Memorial Cup during their summer show on Saturday on the village green.

Thirty years ago Jock Martin was gardener in the village, working for the Allsebrooks at Fonthill Farm.

And he was famed for his green fingers.

Jean, with her family, thoroughly enjoyed an emotional return to the village.

We had a wonderful day, said daughter Morag. Everyone in the village was lovely to us.

We recognised lots of faces and mum had lots to chat to local people about.

The family also visited Newick Primary School and Chailey Secondary School where the children were educated.

Dad used to clear the Newick flower show every time he entered, added Morag.

He won about seven Sir Jeffrey Banks medals and every year won a cup.

He was very well known in Newick in those days as the only Scotsman in the village.

He was gardener at Fonthill for 13 years and during that time we all lived in the gardener s cottage.

It was lovely to come back home after all those years.

Pictured, Robin Martin (son), Mrs Martin with cup, Jean-Elizabeth (daughter) and Morag (daughter) in Newick.