Obituary: Peter Martin, community champion (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Obituary: Peter Martin, community champion
3:50pm Wednesday 14th March 2012 in Eastleigh
By Warwick Payne
Peter Martin, who became director of Hampshire Council of Community Service in 1955 and held the post for 31 years
HE spent more than 30 years helping charities, good causes and community groups across Hampshire.
Peter Martin has died aged 90, having been the long-time director of the Hampshire Council of Social Service.
It later became Hampshire Council of Community Service and is now known as Community Action Hampshire.
He became its leader after the general secretary, Walter Gibson, died in 1955.
He presided at the helm until retiring in 1986, and was awarded an OBE for his work in 1979.
In his role at the group – based at Beaconsfield House in Andover Road, Winchester – he recorded several achievements.
It included helping to expand the Parish Councils Association and Hampshire Voluntary Housing Society.
He also helped to launch several Citizens Advice Bureaux along with Age Concern Hampshire.
In his retirement he lived at Boyatt Wood in Eastleigh and died of heart failure on Friday, February 17.
He is survived by his wife, Laurine, and their five children, Carole, Alan, Laurine, Jacqui and Hilary.
