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Martin Woodward

Martin John Woodward
Ian Lallow | John Luff
Born in Southsea in 1948, Martin moved with his family to the Isle of Wight at the age of 11-years-old, landing in Bembridge where he has lived for over 60 years. He was involved with Bembridge Lifeboat for 38 years, from the age of 12, first as a junior helping hand, cleaning the brass etc and eventually just before his 17th birthday going out on his first ‘shout’.

Martin’s career at sea began as a Navigating Cadet in 1965. After Nautical College he took on work as a navigational sexton plotting pipelines across the Solent for a local diving company. This led to further work diving and eventually took Martin to the oil fields in the Persian Gulf before heading to the North Sea for many years.

He is the leading force behind the Shipwreck Centre and Maritime Museum in Arreton, which holds a huge collection of shipwreck artefacts.

Family life

Born: 1948
Southsea, Portsmouth
Mother: Janet
Father: David

Working life

Navigational Cadet
Diver/Hydrographer
Deep Sea Diver and Marine Consultant

Full interview

Conducted: Lisa Kerley on 1st November 2018 at Martin’s home in Bembridge.
https://archive.org/download/martin-woodward-interviewed-by-lisa-kerley-2018-memories-of-the-sea-for-down-to-the-coast/Martin%20Woodward%20interviewed%20by%20Lisa%20Kerley%20-%202018%20-%20Memories%20of%20the%20Sea%20(for)%20Down%20to%20the%20Coast.mp3

Read the interview transcript

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Martin Woodward on 1st November 2018 by Lisa Kerley:...

Martin Woodward's audio clips​

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Cox Martin Woodward in the foreground, behind him the bow of Max Aitken III protruding from the lifeboat station and the rest of the crew. Bembridge Tyne class ON 1126 Build No 47-018. Max Aitken III.
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge station. ON 822 Watson motor class, 'Jesse Lumb' travelling left to right, mainly bow on
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge All Weather Lifeboat House, view of walkway to the boathouse and 4 people in front of the pictures rear and side aspect of boathouse. In the background is a ship
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge Self Righter Motor Class ON 676. Broadside view of Langham lifeboat with other boats in background on calm water
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge Tyne class lifeboat, ON 1126, Max Aitken III, 47-018 on night exercise with Calshot All Weather Lifeboat in Solent
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge 46 foot Watson motor class lifeboat Jesse Lumb ON 822. Built in Cowes in 1939 by J.S White and Co. Bembridge: 1939-69; Relief fleet
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge. Solent Class. ON 1009. Build No 48-006. Jack Shayler & the Lees. Broadside view of lifeboat travelling left to right
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge station. ON 822 Watson motor class, 'Jesse Lumb' travelling left to right, mainly bow on
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge lifeboat Solent class 48-006 ON 1009 'Jack Shayler & the Lees' travelling from right to left in lively seas. Crew members are wearing RNLI clothing and Beaufort lifejackets
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
The Bembridge lifeboat, Queen Victoria being hauled out of the boathouse
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives
Bembridge. Tyne Class. ON 1126. Build No 47-018. Max Aitken III. on service (rescue) Broadside view of Bembridge lifeboat behind an upturned catamaran.
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge RNLI crew bringing tackle back to shore
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge 46 foot Watson motor class lifeboat Jesse Lumb ON 822. Built in Cowes in 1939 by J.S White and Co. Bembridge: 1939-69; Relief fleet
Martin Woodward on Saving Lives at Sea
Bembridge Cox Peter Smith
Martin Woodward on Sailing
Bembridge harbour regatta
Martin Woodward on Regattas
Picture of two lifeboats in calm sea travelling left to right. Left Bembridge Self righting class. ON 676. Langham. Right Barry Dock. Watson motor class. ON 677. Prince David.
Martin Woodward on Navigation
Bembridge Lifeboat house and slipway.
Martin Woodward on Fishing
Bembridge Self Righter Motor Class ON 676. Broadside view of Langham lifeboat with other boats in background on calm water
Martin Woodward on Diving
SS Mendi postcard
Martin Woodward on Diving
North Sea Dressed Diver in modern times
Martin Woodward on Diving
SS Mendi display at Shipwreck Museum
Martin Woodward on Diving
Testing the 'sat hat' 1977-78
Martin Woodward on Diving
Martin Woodward on a diving expedition
Martin Woodward on Diving
Diving 1979 - Velox
Martin Woodward on Diving
Martin Woodward North Sea Diving
Martin Woodward on Diving
Martin Woodward in diving suit
Martin Woodward on Diving
Seaway Hawk, North Sea Diving
Martin Woodward on Diving
Diver descending into the sea, crew look on from a ship called The Solent
Martin Woodward on Diving
Martin Woodward Diving North Sea 1977
Martin Woodward on Diving
Shanklin Pier after the 1987 storm
Martin Woodward on 1987 Storm
Portrait of Martin Woodward by Julian Winslow

Martin Woodward's photos

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