In Memory of Heather Martin

With great sadness we announce the loss of our beloved mother, Heather Martin (nee Lawson) who passed very suddenly on 9th February 2023 in Wilmcote, Warwickshire.
Heather was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland in 1959, daughter to Gavin and Vera, and sister to Pat and Barbara.
After leaving school she qualified as a shorthand typist, undertaking her profession with diligence and distinction. When off duty she loved to dance in local discos, especially to the sounds of Abba and Sweet.
In 1980 she married and three children followed. Heather warmly and selflessly encouraged Adele, Sheryl and Ryan to achieve their full potential. She was a dedicated cheerleader for their many academic, musical and athletic endeavours, and later, their professional careers.
In due course Heather was employed as a Pharmacy Assistant with Lloyds Pharmacy in Kirkcaldy High Street, and through this work became a much valued member of her local community. In 2007 she was so proud to be invited by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Fife to attend Queen Elizabeth’s Garden Party at Holyrood Palace, and in 2012 to win a national Lloyds Pharmacy retail award. In her free time she enjoyed rehearsing and performing with the Kirkcaldy Gilbert & Sullivan Society.
Heather’s resilience and determination helped her to remain positive in challenging times. In 2013 she re-located 400 miles to Warwickshire, working as Pharmacy Assistant for Birk & Nagra Pharmacy in Leamington Spa. To embark on such a life change at the age of 54 was typical of her bold spirit and her resolve to live life to the full. While working at the Bath Street pharmacy she led the initiative for a ‘blue plaque’ for the building to commemorate the birthplace of Sir Bernard Spilsbury, the pioneering forensic scientist and pathologist.
She soon became a Nana to Bella, then Finn, and adored her weekend trips to Kingston-upon-Thames to dote on her grandchildren. She enjoyed an active and varied social life, including Scottish country dancing, church bell-ringing and airgun league shooting. Known affectionately as ‘Scottish Heather’, she loved to dine out with friends and to take continental coach trips to explore European cities with like-minded folk. She was an avid bargain hunter, taking delight in showing off her latest charity shop finds.
One of her greatest pleasures was to find the perfect quirky and meaningful gift for a loved one, or to craft one by hand. Heather’s generous and affectionate spirit is perhaps what defined her the most and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.