This is from Ariel.

The popular presenter, who was married with two-year old twins and also had a grown-up daughter, was taken ill at the beginning of November and diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Station editor Tony Worgan said although the serious nature of Martin's illness had been known for some time, his death had still come as 'a great shock' to everyone.

'One thing people always noticed about Sandy was his infectious, never ending enthusiasm,' he said. 'He made thinking positively into an art form.'

Helen Boaden, director of News, said: 'All of our thoughts are with his family especially his young children and young widow... He was a very special broadcaster, a very special interviewer and story-teller, and a lovely man.'

Christmas special
David Holdsworth, controller, English Regions, said Martin was the kind of person 'everyone wanted to talk to' and that he had made a 'huge contribution' to the BBC and to local life in Wiltshire.

Even singer Midge Ure paid tribute, recalling how Martin had contacted him after seeing him perform his one-man act and asked if he would give a repeat performance so he could record it as a Christmas special.

'I don't know how, but he managed to pull off a very honest, relaxed, impromptu live performance because he was that kind of character - very easy going and he just had a way of pulling magic out of the bag when it was necessary.'

Book of condolence
Ure continued: 'He spotted things that were just great radio - and it was the sort of stuff that usually I would just dismiss. But he had this lovely enthusiasm that just rubbed off on me, and I'm sure on other artists he spoke to.'

Most recently Martin had been BBC Wiltshire 'Man with a Van', out on the streets gathering powerful, emotional interviews which were broadcast as 'Your Stories from Your Place'.

A book of condolence has opened in the reception of BBC Wiltshire in Swindon.


Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/12789449