Former Newton Aycliffe doctor, Howard Martin, celebrates his 80th Birthday this month and although living in Wales frequently visits the town where he first established a surgery.
He was born in Cheshire and has a twin sister.  He was educated in North Wales and married in 1957 to Sheila Quirk a trainee nurse in Liverpool.
He had a brilliant career in the Army after qualifying at Liverpool Medical School. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, serving in Malaysia and Germany before being posted to Belfast where he heard the first shot fired by the IRA in the late 60’s.
Howard then served in Nepal for a year, moving to Catterick before leaving the Army and becoming a General Practitioner. There he was often called to do locum work in Newton Aycliffe, covering for doctors here, absent from work.
In 1979 he took over Dr. King’s practice and grew the patients list from 2,400 to 9,500 allowing him to bring in four partners.
Following a dispute with the partners in 1992 a resulting court case split the practice with Dr. Martin and his daughter Dr. Luder setting up a new pracitce in Cobblers Hall which was equally successful.
However it was during this time that Howard Martin was accused of murdering four patients. After long protracted proceedings he was found not guilty and retired to North Wales.