Formerly Consultant Psychiatrist, Darlington Memorial Hospital

Ian Martin died on 7 November 2006 after a long illness. In his later post-retirement years he had become almost a recluse, living in Darlington, a single man with but a housekeeper to see to his needs.

Ian died at the age of 72. Born in Nuneaton in the ’30s, and an only child, he never married. He attended Wolver-hampton Grammar School before entering Leeds University Medical School where he graduated MB ChB in 1958. After a spell of National Service during which he was posted to Netley Hospital, the Army psychiatric unit in Southampton, he obtained a post in Leeds, obtaining his DPM and FRCPsych in 1978 and working with Professor Max Hamilton, before obtaining a consultant post at Darlington Memorial Hospital. He was a founder member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1971, and later acquired the certificate of the Society of Medical and Dental Hypnotists. His main interest was in the use of relaxation therapies for the treatment of neuroses. He published a book Art and Practice of Relaxation (Teach Yourself Books, 1977) and a tape on relaxation through hypnotherapy, both of which were well received.

Ian enjoyed travelling to overseas conferences. We first met during National Service at Netley Hospital and formed a lifelong friendship, travelling together to meetings as far afield as Hawaii, Osaka in Japan, Athens and Mexico City. Ian will be missed.