Martin is 48 years old and is married with two grown up sons. He took the opportunity to stand as a candidate for the Labour Party in Old Town ward in 2006 and 2007; this enabled him to gain valuable experience of campaigning and working as a team member towards the election of a Labour Councillor. Now that he has been elected in the Central ward he is eager and looking forward to representing an area to which he feels strongly linked.

Born to parents who both worked for many years at the Co-op Martin spent his early years in the town centre area. The family originated in Tune Street and grandparents George and Marian Dyson, along with other close relatives' lived in Brinkman Street.

He attended Racecommon Road and Agnes Road junior schools before moving to the Pogmoor area in 1970 where he attended Keir Street School. Martin was one of the first pupils to attend Broadway as a Comprehensive school following its change from being a Grammar School.

On leaving school Martin took up an apprenticeship working as an electrician for the Yorkshire Electricity Board based on Harborough Hill Road. On qualifying he worked at both Doncaster and Sheffield Depots where he was also Shop Steward for the AEEU later Unite Union. In 1996 he changed jobs which took him all over the country as Regional Field Service Engineer, servicing and maintaining catering equipment for the National Health Service.

Martin holds a Certificate of Higher Education in Politics and Modern History from Northern College. - He is an active advocate for democracy and is dedicated to working with and for the benefit of our local communities.