He stoked the boiler of properties in Kew in London in return for free board to gain his civil engineering qualification at Queen Mary College. “The next day there was a phone call from John Rochester inviting dad to come to Norfolk to help him start and manage a civil engineering and contracting company.”In 1966, the pair founded John Martin Construction. It built up a considerable reputation for its civil engineering activities, particularly in coastal defence and harbour works. That evening, the staff of John Martin Construction who undertook the work enjoyed front row seats. By October 1999, Edmund Nuttall Ltd had acquired John Martin Construction.

Source: The Times December 23, 2023 11:19 UTC