I don't know what to say. My deepest thoughts are with you Bev, Ash and Melissa at this really sad time.

I worked with Martin, just about every day on and off since about 2005 until he left  and he was just fantastic to work with. He was somebody who I felt really comfortable with, whether we were fixing bits of hardware, writing bits of software, going for a coffee, having a laugh, having a moan.

We were part of a team and Martin was definitely the leader of that team. He was always there for you. He was wise, had so much experience and could basically do anything. Technically, he was the one person who could work out the solution to any problem.

And it wasn't until I'd known him for a while that I realised how much effort he would put in to a prank. The Hula-hoop story still amazes me. And when he was young, his tales of exploding devices were just brilliant.

When we met up the (too) few times since he left work, it was as if we'd not spent any time apart. Just chatted away about stuff and felt relaxed.

It was an absolute pleasure, privilege, honour to have Martin as a colleague and a friend and he'll be very sadly missed.

All my love,

Mat B.