Tributes pour in for Editor Elizabeth Martin

Oct 29 2008 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

TRIBUTES have poured in for Dumfries and Galloway Standard and Galloway News editor Elizabeth Martin.

Elizabeth, who was 56, was found dead at her home in Auchencairn on Saturday.

Friends, colleagues and peers have been saddened by the loss of the respected journalist whose career spanned nearly 40 years.

Her death came five weeks after her husband Jack died following a short battle with illness.

Standard deputy editor, Iain Pollock, said: “We are deeply saddened to have lost a great friend and colleague.

“Elizabeth and her sense of fun will be truly missed by everyone at the Standard. She was a lovely, warm and caring person who put everyone before herself.

“She excelled as a journalist in her long career with the Standard and Galloway News but more than anything she excelled as a wonderful person to know.”

Galloway News deputy editor, Lee Kerr, said: “Everyone here is utterly devastated by the sudden death of Elizabeth.

“She was a true professional in her role as the paper’s editor as well as a very kind person with a great sense of humour who cared deeply for all her friends and colleagues. She will be deeply missed by us all.

“On a personal level, having worked with Elizabeth over the last eight years, she was so much more than a work colleague, she was a very special friend.

“She not only touched my life, but she helped shape it. I feel privileged to have had her support and guidance over the years. She taught me so much and I will miss her terribly. One of the most endearing things about her was the fact that she never truly realised just how special she was.”

Jane Milven, the company’s regional advertising manager, said: “Elizabeth was a very talented journalist, highly respected colleague and a dear, dear friend, she was engaging, professional, caring and funny. I will miss her; everyone who knew Elizabeth will miss her.”

Sir Norman Arthur, the former Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry, said: “I am grateful to Elizabeth for all she gave to life and to her work as editor. Cheerfully fulfilling her demanding leadership of The News and Standard, she could always find time for friendship and enjoyment.

“Personally, I am grateful to Elizabeth and her team for their support during my 10 years as the Stewartry’s Lord Lieutenant and for the generous coverage always given to my wife’s and my years of aid work in The Balkans.

“The deep tragedy and sorrow of her death, following that of her loved husband Jack, are matched for me by happy memories of what she gave to life and work and friendship.”

Dame Barbara Kelly, of the Crichton Foundation, said: “I am very sad indeed to hear the shocking news of Elizabeth’s untimely death, all the more tragic, coming so soon after the death of her husband, Jack.

“Over the years, I have watched, with admiration and real pleasure, Elizabeth’s career progress from cub reporter to editor of two local newspapers.

“A consummate professional, she was always straightforward, upright and principled in her approach to journalism.”

A police spokesman said: “The chief constable and staff of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary wish to express their sadness at the passing of Elizabeth Martin. The force would also want to place on record their appreciation for the close working relationship which Elizabeth helped to forge between the force and the Standard and Galloway News over many years.

“Her professionalism and sense of duty to her community through her role as editor was always to the fore and she was instrumental in bringing about a new style of trust between the press and police which has benefited everyone.”

Council leader Ivor Hyslop said: “Elizabeth believed that local newspapers were the voice of the community and should be a forum for debate.

“She championed their causes and her paper stood up to be counted when they believed there was injustice. That is a valuable contribution to democracy.

“She also worked with big organisations like the council to make sure that success and achievement was celebrated and that people got to hear about the decisions that affect their lives. She was a good listener and a fine journalist. She will be missed.”

Council chief executive Phil Jones added: “Elizabeth was an outstanding professional who always strove to present a factual and balanced view to the public. I held her in the highest regard and I will miss her honesty, integrity and friendship.”

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP, Alex Fergusson, said: “I was totally stunned and desperately saddened to hear of Elizabeth Martin’s death last weekend.

“I had written to her a month ago after the death of her beloved husband Jack, and bumped into her doing some shopping in Castle Douglas two weeks ago.

“She was utterly distraught at her loss, and clearly having great difficulty coming to terms with it.

“They were completely devoted to each other.

“Without Elizabeth and Jack Martin, Dumfries and Galloway will be an infinitely duller place. I simply hope that she is now at peace.”

Dumfries and Galloway MP, Russell Brown, said: “This news has come as a huge shock to everyone who knew Elizabeth, as indeed I have for many years right back to the days when she was a local reporter.

“Elizabeth’s hard work and dedication was what earned her great respect in local journalistic circles, and what precipitated her rise to the editorship of both the Standard and the Galloway News. She will be very sadly missed.”

South of Scotland MSP, Mike Russell, said: “Dumfries and Galloway and the people who live there have lost a champion and a friend. Local journalism has lost one of its greatest proponents and it will be very hard to fill her shoes.”

Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell said: “Elizabeth was a well-known and respected journalist. She always understood the importance of local news to people in Dumfries and Galloway, which is especially important to an area which rarely features in the national press.

“Under her editorship, the Standard has won a number of industry accolades and has been at the forefront in campaigning on a number of local issues including lobbying for the University of Glasgow to remain on the Crichton campus. She will be sadly missed.”

Dumfries MSP, Elaine Murray, said: “I was saddened to learn of the untimely death of Mrs Martin, only a few weeks after losing her husband to cancer. Mrs Martin was always helpful and courteous whenever she was contacted and her demise is great loss to the local media in Dumfries and Galloway and must have been a terrible shock to her colleagues.”

Standard photographer Robin Bryden and sub-editor Susan Bryden had worked with Elizabeth for over 40 and 30 years respectively.

Susan said: “We feel privileged to have shared all our working lives with Elizabeth and she was as much a friend as a colleague and a boss.

“As a journalist living and working in the same community all her life, her dedication to, and passion about, this region was second to none. Her professionalism was of the highest standard.

“We are very shocked and saddened by her untimely death, but will treasure the many, many happy times we shared.”

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Elizabeth’s death.

The funeral service will take place at Auchencairn Parish Church at noon on Friday. Family flowers only. Donations may be given at the service for Cash for Kids.

You can post your own message of condolence to Elizabeth here