End of an era as Jack (103) passes away
By Sarah Curran
A DONAGHADEE centenarian, who worked in the iconic Cabin ice-cream parlour, has died.
Jack Martin passed away peacefully at 103 years-old on Tuesday evening.
Known locally as Jackie, Mr Martin was a familiar face at Donaghadee’s famous ice-cream parlour, The Cabin, opening the doors to the shop six days a week.
A keen worker, Mr Martin in his later years said he never felt ready to fully give up work and would cycle to The Cabin regularly to help out for around an hour at a time.
He continued to do so right until he took unwell recently and was admitted to hospital.
Born in Portadown to parents Samuel Mark and Rebecca on May 8, 1920, Mr Martin was one of seven children.
His father, who once worked for an oil company in the early 20s in Portadown, found himself drawn to Donaghadee when work began to become sparse and an opportunity opened up for him to become a bus driver for a private company in the seaside town.
Only nine at the time, Mr Martin attended the local school, situated where the public restrooms are now in the town.
At 19, Mr Martin worked as a riveter during the war and in previous interviews he recalled the long gruelling days. Beginning his day on a train to Belfast ay 7.40am, Mr Martin would not return home until 7.40pm the same way.
Following the war, Mr Martin began a 41 year-long career as a bus driver with companies NIRTB, U2A and Ulsterbus.
Along the way he met his wife, Violet Patricia Pearce, and together they started a family, with sons – Iain, Alan, Colin and Brian.
Although Mr Martin retired from his bus driving duties in 1985, he wasn’t quite ready to give up work and so he became locally known as the lollipop man for the children of Groomsport Primary School, a job which he loved immensely.
Following his stint at the school, Mr Martin continued to work and took up the position of caretaking at the local Methodist Church for 20 years, working alongside three ministers during his time.
For around the last 15 years of his life, Mr Martin became a firm fixture at the local ice-cream parlour, cycling to work from his house located on Moat Street, working five or six days a week for about an hour at a time.
When asked how he had come to work so late in life, Mr Martin previously told the Spectator: “I just got into the habit of it. One job came after the other and I just thought, what’s the use of me sitting about?”
Mr Martin is survived by his wife Patsy, his four sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
