A WELL-KNOWN gas engineer who also played badminton, darts and golf on the Island, Martin Charles White, has died, aged 69.

Born and raised in the family home in Lake, Martin was the youngest of five siblings.

He attended Gatten and Lake Primary School and Fairway Secondary Modern before leaving school to start an apprenticeship with British Gas.

Martin worked for the company for more than 30 years, promoted to technician and later into a sales position. He was also a member of the former British Gas Social Club committee.

After leaving British Gas, Martin started his own warm-air heating business on the mainland, covering large parts of Hampshire, Dorset, Surrey and Berkshire.

He lived in Winchester before moving to Andover but still regularly visited his family on the Island.

In his earlier days, Martin played badminton in the Island League for NALGO and later Vectis and he played for local darts teams.

In later life, golf became his passion and he was a member of Ventnor Golf Club before he moved to the mainland.

He was a member of Andover Golf Club but regularly played at Shanklin and Sandown and Westridge while visiting the Island.

His intention was to retire to the Island and live in Lake, as he particularly loved being by the sea and enjoyed the view of Culver over Sandown Bay.

He leaves behind his three children, Matt, Darren and Lauran, his partner, Valerie, stepdaughter Alice, sisters Lois and Barbara and brother George. His eldest brother, Phillip, died in 2014.

Martin’s funeral will be held at the IW Crematorium on Tuesday, August 16, at 1.15pm.