The death occurred in Bristol, on 3 August 2011, of Frank Martin, a leading figure in the work and development of the Gatliff hostels.
His funeral was at the South Bristol Crematorium on Wednesday 17 August and conducted by fellow Gatliff Trust trustee, the Revd Canon Roger Clifton.
The following tribute is made by his daughter, Sarah:
'My father, Frank Martin, has died aged 69. He was an inspiration to many and was, in his interest in environmental causes, ahead of his time.
His primary commitment was to the British countryside and to increasing access to the countryside, especially for young people of limited means. Perhaps this was because he had been a young person of limited means himself, born in 1942 and growing up in South London, but through scouting and youth hostelling had discovered the great outdoors. He loved walking, trees and mountain climbing, all passions that he hoped to share with others by making it easy for them to visit Britain’s wild landscapes and national parks.
He pursued this through his voluntary work with the Youth Hostels Association, the Council for National Parks, the International Youth Hostels Federation and the Gatliff Trust.
He played a prominent role in YHA, serving on the National Executive Committee, twice Chair of the Countryside Committee and as Vice-Chair of YHA from 1982 to 1984. He also served as Chair of the YHA Services Management Committee and, making use of his experience in the shipping industry, showed himself to be well up to the task of overseeing this commercial operation, whose profits returned to YHA each year. In 1992 he presented the youth hostel movement’s Environmental Charter to the IYHF Conference in Copenhagen.
Frank will be most remembered for his work for the Gatliff Trust, an organisation involved in giving grants to British environmental and other causes, and also with running simple crofters’ hostels in the Outer Hebrides. These hostels are one of his proudest achievements, as along with many others, he worked to provide inexpensive overnight accommodation accessible to all in one of the most remote and beautiful parts of Britain. The Trust works with islanders to offer accommodation enabling hostellers to get to know the communities, language and culture, scenery and natural environment of the Western Isles.
He was a good Chair and an energetic contributor to these various causes because he was self-effacing, and generally put the big picture first. He was very gentle and also had a strong sense of fun, making him well-liked in his local community in Hotwells in Bristol. He has died after a long illness, and is survived by his wife, Katherine, and by his daughters, Sarah and Carrie.'
Donations are welcome to Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust, c/o Philip Lawson, Hon Treasurer, Ledmore, Carnbee, Anstruther, Fife, KY10 2RU. Frank was Chairman of the Gatliff Trust from 1977; there has been a Gatliff Trust hostel at Howmore on South Uist for 45 years and this year the Trust has succeeded in purchasing the building, a traditional thatched croft house. Funds raised will go towards renovation work.
