John Martin started out in lifesaving in 1975 whilst living in Portreath in Cornwall. Over the past 34 years John has held numerous roles in lifesaving, first at club level and then within Cornwall Region progressing to the Chairman of Surf Life Saving GB in 1990. He relinquished this role 1995 after being elected to the International Lifesaving Board of Directors (ILS) on its creation in 1994. Since then he has been an ever-present member of the ILS and ILSE Boards of Directors, as well as a key member of the ILS and ILSE Sport Commissions.

He was the Director of Sport for Surf Life Saving GB for nine years to 2007, during which time he greatly progressed lifesaving sport across the age spectrum from Nipper to Master in the Ocean and Pool disciplines.

John said today “it is a great honour to be awarded the MBE, and to receive this recognition for the commitment given by all volunteer Surf Lifesavers”.

John has done much to help the development of the Lifesaving World Championships over the past 15 years and was the Chief Referee of the Ocean events at the first ILS World Championships of Rescue 94 in Great Britain, as well as Chief Referee of the Masters events at the following four World Championships in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and USA. He has also been the Chief Referee at three European Championships in ocean events in Great Britain, Sweden and Germany.

These many achievements were recognised by ILS in 2004 and 2009, through awards of Knight and Grand Knight in the Order of Lifesaving.