Cumbria lost a businessman instrumental in building up a family firm which outdid national competitors, with the death of Harold Graham Martin, aged 65.
Graham, as he was always known, played a leading role in turning Harold’s Tyres, on Penrith’s Gilwilly industrial estate, from a modest business to one with a multi-million pound annual turnover and a host of loyal customers, many from the Keswick area.
Born and raised in Plumpton, Graham was one of five children of the late Harold and Edith Martin. He attended the village school in Plumpton and then Ullswater School, Penrith — now Ullswater Community College.
After leaving school, he joined the family tyre sales business. Over the following years he and his brother David turned it into a thriving enterprise known for offering customers honest advice and good value and not trying to sell them things they did not need.
Harold’s Tyres became the dominant tyre supplier in and around Penrith. It was particularly popular with farmers from a wide area and the business was one of the first to back the Penrith and District Farmers’ Mart Partnership when this was formed to save the town’s livestock sales centre from closure.
Graham retired when Harold’s Tyres was bought by a national firm in October, 2015.
Away from work, Graham was at one time keen on car rallying and from this grew a passion for restoring classic vehicles — an interest he shared with David. Graham’s favourite vehicles included a Jaguar Mark 2 car and, in more recent times, a Ford Zodiac and Ford Thames pick-up.
He and David exhibited their vehicles at shows and rallies across Cumbria, winning many prizes, and also attended others further afield to see classic vehicles and chat with their owners. He judged and acted as a marshal at some of these events, and was a member of the Wigton Motor Club.
Graham made many friends at classic vehicle shows and the motorbike racing events which he also enjoyed attending. He followed the Langwathby-based Paul Bird Motorsport motorcycle road racing team.
Although a quiet man by nature, he had a great sense of humour and saw the good side of all those he met. He was prepared to give anybody a chance, not always to his own benefit.
It was in 1988 that he met his future wife, Linda, through a mutual friend and the couple were married in 1990. They went on to have two children, Joann and Joseph, with the family living in Castletown, Penrith.
A real family man, Graham loved overseas holidays with his wife, children and, on some occasions, other family members. He and Linda also enjoyed travelling to all parts of the world in connection with the family business, to destinations as diverse as the Maldives and Thailand.
He suffered from some ill health from 1991-93 but recovered from this, as he did from heart issues he suffered later on.
He is survived by his wife Linda, who lives in Penrith with their two children; brothers David and Andrew, also of Penrith, and Alan, who lives in Glassonby.
The funeral service was held at the crematorium in Temple Sowerby on Monday and mourners were asked to wear some items of colourful clothing.
Walkers Funeral Directors, Penrith, had charge of the arrangements.
