In Memory

James Henry Carl Martin 25 July 1956 – 27 March 2023

James (Jimmy to his friends and family) was born in West Felton where he attended West Felton Primary School. He was the only son of the late William Martin and Rosie Martin (nee Evans) and has two sisters Harriet and Sybil.

The family moved to Eardiston around 1960 and James then attended Oswestry Boys Modern School where he discovered his love of music, playing the Cornet in the school brass band under the tutorage of Dixi Dean.

His uncle then introduced him to the bagpipes showing him the basics of playing the pipes and James had found his calling.

He joined the Irish Guards aged 15 and a half, where he quickly established himself as a piper par excellence rising to the rank of Pipe Major which was awarded on 21 April 1988.

On 10 January 1994, James was ‘at the Queen’s Command’ appointed as a piper to the royal household where he was reputed to be a favourite of the Queen Mother. This appointment was to be during her Majesty’s pleasure and became void on the death of the sovereign.

Just before he retired from the Army, he supported the late Kirsty McCall on the Jools Holland Hogmanay show, seeing in 1995 by piping ‘Miss Otis Regrets’.

James served 30 years in the Irish Guards travelling the world in the service of his country before finally retiring from the Army, when he then settled in Bonnyrigg near Edinburgh and set up his own company F1 Hydrojet.

He passed away in the Philippines 27 March 2023 aged 67 surrounded by loving family.

Fondly remembered by all his friends and family across the world.

James (Jimmy) Martin, one of Oswestry’s Heroes.