The obituary notice of Martin LEGGETT

Hi everyone. If you’re reading through the service for Martin you’ll find the beginning at the top, then scroll right down and read from section 2 upwards. Sorry, I made a bit of a pigs ear of it, but it’s all there for those who missed it or want to see it again.

If you can, listen to the music Martin and I chose - it meant a great deal to both of us.

I want to thank everyone who attended - and those who tried to but were hampered by the horrendous weather - but mainly, I want to thank my wonderful family who supported me through it. I love you all xx

Service of Celebration for the Life of 
Martin Leggett
4th January 1957 - 5th August 2026

Thursday, 27th August 2026
Thornton Crematorium, at 12 noon


Music: Let There Be Love, by Nat King Cole (Chosen by Martin)


Welcome and Opening Words
Hello, my name is Lorraine Hull and it is my privilege today to lead this ceremony for Martin Leggett.
 
We come together this afternoon to give thanks for and celebrate Martin's life…
 
And reminisce the character, personality, and special qualities of the unique person that you know and love.

I deliberately use the present tense, because the love that we feel for someone doesn’t die when they do, it remains in our hearts for as long as we live.
 
Martin passed away peacefully, on the 5th August, at Woodlands Hospice, Aintree, he was 69 years old.

He leaves his beloved wife Margaret, sons Robbie and Jamie, grandchildren Ryan, Owen, Nathan, Emily, Sam, Jack, Sophie and Frankie and great-grandson Carter.

On behalf of Margaret, Robbie and Jamie, thank you for your kindness, beautiful cards and messages, and for attending this service to celebrate the life of their beloved husband and dad. 

Following the service, please join the family to further celebrate Martin’s life at The Mel Inn Social Club, further details are on your order of service.

Anyone who would like to make a gift in memory of Martin may wish to consider a donation to Woodlands Hospice, again details are on your order of service.

It would be impossible to tell the full story of Martin’s life in the few minutes we have here…

The best we can do is sketch an outline with some anecdotes and reminiscences and leave you to complete Martin’s handsome portrait with your own memories.
(Section 1)

Closing Words
As we come towards the end of this service to celebrate Martin’s life, my very best wishes to each and every one of you.
 
Please be gentle with yourselves and each other…

And continue to love and look after each other as you come to terms with your loss…

Each in your own way and in your own time.

Martin will be sadly missed, but has left many memories that can never be taken away. 
 
Enjoy sharing your stories later, and in the weeks, months and years ahead, continue to talk about him, that is his legacy… 
 
Keep the memories alive of his values and what he said and did, pass on those stories, to the younger generations, including those who haven’t even been born yet…

And in that way you will keep him with you and keep his legacy going.

We will finish with a song chosen by Margaret, which was on their playlist in the car while travelling around Scotland in April this year.

Margaret also chose the poem on the back of your order of service; it is my privilege to share that now, on her behalf:

In my mind, a garden grows,
Watered by love, and the life we chose.
Each thought of you, a blooming flower,
Alive and vibrant, in this very hour.
 
The sun may set, the petals may fall,
Yet, in my mind, you stand tall.
Through every season, winter to spring,
Your love’s eternal, in everything.
 
Though you’ve left, you’re not gone,
In my garden of memories, you live on.
Blossoms may fade, but roots dig deep,
In this heart-garden, your love I’ll keep.
(Author unknown)

Thank you everyone, take care.

Music: This Is The Time, by Billy Joel (Chosen by Margaret)

Before we take the pause, I would like to share the poem on your order of service.

Poem: A Life Well Lived

A life well lived is a precious gift
Of hope and strength and grace,
From someone who has made our world
A brighter, better place.
It’s filled with moments, sweet and sad
With smiles and sometimes tears,
With friendships formed and good times shared
And laughter through the years.
A life well lived is a legacy
Of joy and pride and pleasure,
A living, lasting memory
Our grateful hearts will treasure
(Author unknown)
 

Visual Tribute & Music: Sunshine On Leith, by The Proclaimers 
(Chosen by Martin)

Thanksgiving and Farewell
If you are able, please stand.

Just as we welcome a child into our lives when they are born, so we must say goodbye to those who leave us. 
 
I say these words on behalf of everyone who knew Martin throughout his life, those here, and those unable to be here in person…
 
Martin, you were a good man and led a good life.
  
On behalf of everyone that knew you, here and elsewhere, thank you for all you gave.  
 
The world is a better place because you have lived.
 
The ripples of your life and love continue to spread in this world through everyone that knew the joy of your love and friendship and had the privilege of calling you family or friend.

And now, with sadness in their hearts and inspiration for having known you, your family and friends must let you go.
 
Martin Leggett, with love and with sorrow we bid you farewell
  
Your family and friends treasure the memories 
    of your company and your character
    of your sense of humour and your values
    of your kindness and your generosity
    of your love and your friendship 
 
Martin, may you rest in love and peace.

You will always be loved and missed and will never be forgotten.
 
Thank you everyone, please be seated.
(Section 11)

Reflection
Before we say thank you and farewell to Martin we will listen to some music: Sunshine on Leith, by The Proclaimers.

Like the Nat King Cole song that was played as we came in, it was chosen by Martin.

There will also be a slideshow of photographs.

Although I wasn’t lucky enough to have Martin in my life, from everything I have been told I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want you to be sad at his passing.

Easier said than done, I know, especially on a day like today. 

But even today, if you can, try and find something to be grateful for, rather than to be sorry for.

You will each have your own memories of Martin, and even those recollections from the same occasion will differ because you will each have your own perspective.

You may wish to use this pause for reflection to think about a happy memory that you have of him.

It may be from a special time, or event, in your or his life, maybe one of the photographs will prompt a memory…

Or it may be something ordinary and everyday…

Maybe something like playing the card game Newmarket or choosing a horse for the Grand National…

Or him trying to convince you that Christmas was actually Easter - maybe that’s one for Sophie?

Often, for some reason, it is these seemingly everyday recollections that are the strongest and most vivid.
(Section 10)

I wish I’d met Martin, he sounds like someone that I’d like and get on with.

He loved the sea, when he was a teenager he used to go fishing on the dock wall with his dad, something he did later with his own boys.

Margaret told me about time they spent in Seahouses, somewhere they both felt a deep connection to - especially when watching the waves crashing over the sea wall.

He loved music - although not everyone shared his taste…

Martin couldn’t understand why the person who broke into their car, stole the stereo and most of the tapes didn’t steal his Chris de Burgh tape!

He liked a bet on the horses and the football.

Robbie told me that back in the 80’s his dad won £600 on the Tricast for the National.

It would have been thousands had he put the bet on straight!

But Martin didn’t care, it was still a lot of money, and he loved throwing it up in the air when he came home!

He made friends easily and made people laugh.

He had a great sense of humour, which depending on who he was talking with could be described as: dry, funny, witty, quick and/or dirty!

He was also soothing and surprisingly cuddly…

He could get the grandchildren to sleep with ease by resting their heads on his chest and speaking.

He had quite a voice, in fact that’s what Margaret’s mum called him when they were courting!

Margaret described Martin as a kind, gentle, generous giant.

A huge character - not just in actual height…

Which was 6 foot, 8 and a half inches!

But in his very being.

Someone who was not only liked by everyone, but loved by all who knew him.

He really was the BFG!
(Section 9)

When I spoke with Martin’s family they told me some of their favourite memories, unfortunately we haven’t got time for me to be able to retell them all here, but I would like to share some of what we talked about and some of what I have been told since:

Jamie remembered that his mum and dad had renewed their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary, in June 2006. 

All the family were there, including Martin’s parents and sister and Margaret’s mum. 

Jack, Sophie, Frankie and Carter weren’t born then. 

They booked a hotel in Southport and filled all the rooms! 

After the vows, everyone walked along the prom’ and played crazy golf then had a lovely meal together in the evening.

Margaret told me that she has fond memories is of her and Martin making some lovely friends of the players parents when driving Robbie and Jamie to rugby matches around the south of England when they both played for Blackheath RUFC youth teams. 

Martin’s family: YOU meant everything to him, especially his grandchildren and great-grandson…

He was besotted with you all.
(Section 8)

Emily:
“My grandad is magic
  
My grandad was magic  
in my earliest years,   
he would do amazing tricks,  
like pull chocolate out of our ears  
  
We would travel around, sitting on his giant feet  
and hold on to his legs tightly,   
until at least one lap of the kitchen was complete  
  
Then, his two little friends would come out to play  
and try their hardest to chase us away  
but I was his little poppet,   
so I always had the last say  
  
I would climb up onto his lap  
and say  
‘tickle my back, grandad’  
and that was that  
  
After school my friends would come round   
I’d introduce them:  
‘this is my magic grandad’   
so proud  
  
I’d whisper ‘he might look tall and scary,  
but don’t worry, he’s like the BFG’  
and he always made sure to make them feel as special as me  
  
As i got older  
and we would speak on the phone  
he’d say  
‘just checking Em, are you alone?’  
  
And when the coast was clear  
that no one was near  
he could call me his poppet   
without any fear  
  
He didn’t want to embarrass teenage me  
but little did he know  
being my magic granddad’s little poppet  
was the proudest thing I could be  
  
So, even now that he’s no longer home  
and I no longer can just pick up the phone  
I will never doubt the love he has for me  
my grandad is magic, I’m sure you can see.”

Thank you both.

What a credit you are to your grandad, your family and yourselves.
(Section 7)

Before I continue, I would like to welcome Nathan and Emily to come and pay their tributes to their grandad.

Our Grumpy Magical Grandad, from grandchildren Nathan and Emily

Nathan:

“There are some emotions that are so hard to put into words. 

Dès vu is one of these words, it describes the feeling of knowing what you’re currently experiencing will become a key memory.

Dès vu describes every moment with grandad, every second becoming a key memory… whether being grumpy grandad to my brothers and me or showing us the arm locks he used on the prisoners in work.

This is what makes today so difficult, that I won’t be able to make anymore new memories with grandad.

But that doesn’t have to be a sad thing. 

It was an honour and privilege to experience living those memories and an even greater privilege to call him my grandad and to be his tall boy.

I love you so much grandad and I’ll carry your memory with me forever. I’ll make sure to save you an After 8.”
  (Section 6)

As Margaret said in her tribute, their home, in the early years was in Litherland, but in 1987, the family move to London.

After Martin was made redundant from Tate and Lyle, he worked for a Spanish Fruit Importer, again in distribution.

In 1999 he had a career change and became a prison officer, at Belmarsh Prison…

And he loved it!

He was gutted when he was medically retired from the Prison Service, in 2014.

And when he and Margaret moved back up here and stayed with his mum, he missed his friends.

But as has already been said, Win replied that their loss was her gain and she was grateful for her son and daughter-in-law’s support.
(Section 5)