Martin Edwardes 1964 to 1969

“If I had succeeded academically at St Mary’s. I wouldn’t be who I am today. Life has been pretty good to me so far.”

 These are the words of Martin Edwardes who arrived at St Mary’s from St Stephen’s Primary School in Welling in 1964 and left five years later with four O-Levels to his name.

But that doesn’t even begin to tell the story. From St Mary’s, Martin went to Erith College of Technology, leaving in 1971 with five more O-levels, two A-Levels and an OND credit pass (equivalent to two A-Levels).

It was then on to the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) in Cardiff and in 1972 he met his lifelong partner, Philip Rescorla.

After university, Martin joined the Civil Service working on the National Economic Model and National Financial Information system. During this time, Martin also published several board games including Battle of the Ring; Africa and Simon de Montfort.

All Those Years Ago: Martin played the character ‘Snake’ in RB Sheridan’s The School for Scandal which was staged at St Mary’s between 30 January and 3 February 1968

In 1983, Martin had a computer game called Fall of Rome published, which was followed two years later by his first book Getting Started on Your MSX.

At the same time, Martin moved into HR and, between 1989 and 2002, worked as a freelance consultant in computing, systems, HR and business.

In 1998, Martin began studying for an MA in Grammar and Language and, after completing the course in 2001, began an MPhil/PhD in The Genesis of Grammar.

In 2006, 34 years after they first met, Martin civil partnered with Philip and a year later completed his PhD, before becoming a visiting lecturer at King’s College, London.

In 2010, Martin’s book The Origins of Grammar: an anthropological perspective was published.

In 2014, Philip was awarded an OBE and a year later he and Martin were interviewed for BOLD: Stories from older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

In 2019, Martin’s second academic book, The Origins of Self: An anthropological perspective, was published.

Last year Martin was retired by King’s College because of the pandemic.

He remains great friends with Paul Martin who also joined St Mary’s in 1964 and has also been most helpful in this project. Martin’s own website is here.