This is a very sad loss of a great character on the Wigan Folk scene. It is easily said but there really was no-one quite like Martin; he was a real one-off and is irreplaceable.
My fondest memories of him will be from trips to Folk Festivals , especially to Warwick where, on my first trip, he 'kindly' let me stay in his infamous 'babe magnet'. We spent some very happy times together there and it always seemed to be sunny! Despite his age he had more staying power than anyone else; last to bed and first up, and would happily have stayed up all night playing and singing for as long as anyone else would stay up with him (or he was told to stop)!
I have not seen a lot of Martin recently, only speaking to him on the phone, but I will really miss him. R.I.P.