In Memory of

David Peter Martin (Dave)

Born in Matlock in 1980, David attended both All Saints CE Infants and All Saints CE Junior Schools before moving onto his secondary school education. He was a pupil at Highfields School between 1991 and 1998. He achieved well at the school, despite his dyslexia, and particularly excelled in computing and technology. In Y11, he was entered by the school’s technology department for an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, which involved an initial examination, followed by an invitation to attend an interview weekend at Trent College which included applicants working on challenges in teams and individual formal interviews. The family were delighted when he was successful and as parents, we accompanied him to London for the presentation. David’s scholarship was sponsored by Rolls Royce and David and the school’s Head of Technology at that time, Paul Eastwood, spent a day touring their sites in Derby. As part of the prize, David was presented with a cheque for £500 which he spent on parts to build his own PC. Highfields School also benefited from the scholarship as the school also received £500. We believe that David was the first pupil from the school to achieve the Scholarship. In later years, David was invited by the Arkwright Scholarship to take part in the selection process for future scholarships – he really enjoyed being involved in the process.

From Highfields, David went on to study for a BEng (Hons) in Micro Electronics and Computer Engineering at Staffordshire University, graduating in 2002. He returned to Highfields in August of that year, working as IT Network Manager across both Sites until December 2005, when he moved to Derbyshire’s Schools IT Support as a Network Support Engineer, providing support for over 400 schools. In 2009, David took the bold decision to return to education and began studying for an MSc in Forensic Computing and Security at Derby University. Digital forensics quickly became a new interest and passion for David and in March of the following year, he was successful in obtaining the position of Forensic Computer Examiner/Investigator with West Midlands Police. He continued working towards his Masters degree which he achieved, with Merit, in 2012. In subsequent years he was invited back to Derby University as a guest lecturer and he also lectured at Bristol University.

Sadly, at the end of May 2016, David received the devastating news that he had Stage 4 Bowel cancer. After 12 months of treatment, including fortnightly rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a colostomy, liver surgery and finally removal of the tumour, David took the opportunity of joining a group of motor bikers in a ride from Lands End to John O’ Groats, raising money for Bowel Cancer UK, riding on L plates! Despite heavy rain each day he achieved the challenge, passing his motor bike test shortly afterwards and writing articles for magazines about the ride and the treatment he had undergone. He also helped to set up an online charity “Mental Health Motorbikes”, undertaking training in First Aid for Mental Health and offering support to fellow bikers suffering short- or longer-term mental health issues.

David developed a mantra, #GetOutDoStuff, to encourage everyone to make the most of what time they have and to live each day to the full. Although the cancer returned within a year, David made the most of his time between treatments to “get out and do stuff”. Adventures included a motorbike trip across the USA, with the highlight being the decision that he and his partner, Krina, made to marry in Las Vegas – something family and friends were able to witness as the ceremony was ‘live-streamed’. In breaks between the fortnightly, grueling and relentless chemotherapy, David’s adventures continued, including a return to the USA with his father, where David spoke at a “Horizons Unlimited” bikers’ festival. He took his motorbike on a solo trip to Norway, passing through Northern Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden and managed holidays with his wife to Iceland and other areas closer to home.

Of course, the arrival of Covid in March 2020 greatly curtailed David’s adventures; he was fortunate that his chemotherapy was able to continue and used the time to write magazine articles about his adventures, also producing videos and articles for Marie Curie about the challenges of living with cancer through a pandemic and taking part in Bowel Cancer UK’s “Never Too Young” campaign. Despite David’s grit and determination, and the best efforts of medical staff, David sadly passed away in September 2022.

Age 42
Born 17/04/1980
Died 17/09/2022

The story of David Peter Martin (Dave)

If you have seen the memorial bench, you will have seen inscribed on the top, David’s mantra, “#GetOutDoStuff”.

Below, in David’s own words, is a short description of what adventure meant to him:

“For many, finding out you have incurable cancer means an end to everything as they know it.

For Me, getting that news just made me more determined to make the most of the time I have.
An adventure for me is getting on my bike and riding to new places, exploring new roads, new countries, and most of all meeting new people!!

I’ve been fortunate enough to get to ride the full length of the UK (Lands’ End to John O’ Groats), all the way across the States from New York to LA, and most recently my first long solo adventure taking in Holland, Northern Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

I’ve made loads of friends and contacts along the way, even being invited back to stay with a great family in the States and then presenting at the ‘Horizons Unlimited’ travellers’ meeting in Virginia.

Your adventure doesn’t need to be that long, or that far, just get out the house and explore the area around you, go somewhere new or revisit your favourite spots.

Along my travels I try to encourage people to get out and make the most of the time they have, It’s a simple message

#GETOUTDOSTUFF

Hopefully I have inspired you to take that step to having a new adventure.

Please, go live your adventure!”

After David passed away, his many friends within both the adventure and motorbiking communities thought about how they could create a lasting tribute to him and his #GetOutDoStuff approach to life. In 2023, Matt and Reece (aka ‘The Sidecar Guys’) launched a #GetOutDoStuff grant at the annual Armchair Adventure Festival, held in Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Cornwall in July each year. The first grants were awarded in 2024 and applications for this year’s grants will open in October 2025, with the hope that the grants can continue to be awarded annually. There are three types of grants available:

The #GetOutDoStuff Armchair Adventures Choice Award (one available up to a maximum of £3000)
The #GetOutDoStuff Young Adventurer Award in memory of Alastair Farland (one available up to a maximum of £1000)
The #GetOutDoStuff Micro-Adventures Choice Award (multiple available up to a maximum of £500 each)

More details can be found at:
Armchair Adventure Festival (select travel grant from the menu)

David was also instrumental in helping to set up Mental Health Motorbike, now a registered charity (Registered Charity No. 1196406), which exists to create meaningful opportunities so that together they grow the greater wellbeing of the motorbike community. Their ultimate aim is to reduce suicide amongst bikers in the UK. They are building a free, dedicated national network of trained mental health first aiders who can support families across the UK. They have a presence on Facebook, including a private Members’ Support group which now has more than 3,400 members.

More details about their work can be found at: mhmotorbike.com

 

Find my story

You can read about my story by visiting The QR plaque can be found on a memorial bench at Highfields Upper school, Upper Lumsdale, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5NA.
It was placed there by David's family, by kind permission of Highfields School which David attended as both a pupil and member of staff.

Pictures of David Peter Martin (Dave)