Chester murder probe: Friends pay tribute to 'true gent' Martin Ithell

Mar 17 2011 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

PUBS, bars and restaurants across Chester will hold a minute’s silence for Martin Ithell on Friday evening out of respect to a ‘sincere friend’.

Yet family and pals of Martin are concerned some people will draw the wrong conclusions about their loved one because of his profession as a former doorman turned commercial debt collector.

One of his best friends, Craig Rowlands, known as ‘Toffo’, said: “Even in his job you would never hear anyone having a go, you would never hear anyone saying he was a bully. He always went as a gentleman. That was the way he was.”

He added: “He was always happy, always smiling.”

King Kab manager Matt Dalton brought in his friend Martin and a security team after he was attacked at work.

He said his pal of more than 20 years could handle himself and was a black belt expert in the Shotokan-style of karate but “never used it”.

“He was a true gent and there’s not many left. He was liked by everyone,” said Matt, who helped organise the minute’s silence for 9pm on Friday at Chester’s pubs and bars.

Friend Steve Goodwin, founder of Heavy Hitters boxing gym in Hoole, said Martin backed the aims of his venture, a charity, to keep young people on the “straight and narrow”.

“Martin always supported the gym, he always supported the boys, amateurs and professionals,” added Steve, who said his pal found sponsors and organised fund-raising events.

A keep fit fanatic, Martin would open up the gym at 6am every day, on an unpaid basis, and then put himself through a two hour work-out.

Steve met Martin 25 years ago when he took his daughter to a karate class at Northgate Arena where his friend was taking part.

“He was always smiling, quiet, but when he needed to, he would say something,” said Steve. “He was a really good friend to me. I haven’t got any brothers or sisters but I have lost someone like that.”

Friend Kenny Baker was among the last people to see Martin alive after bumping into him at Corbetts bookmakers about 6pm last Friday where he was playing the fruit machines.

Kenny was involved with the Amphitheatre bar until January and used to run the former Joe’s Wine Bar, where Martin did ‘a brilliant job’ running the doors.

“I was talking to the lads on the doors and everybody was stunned,” said Kenny. “I was at the football on Saturday and mentioned it to the guys and they were absolutely gob-smacked. One said ‘he used to sit on my knee when he was a kid’.”

Bus driver Pat Wynne, from Kingsway, has cancelled a holiday to Ireland he is so upset.

“He was the best friend I ever had in my life,” said Pat, who had known Martin more than 30 years. “If ever I had a problem with anything he would help.

“He was just superb. He loved his family, he loved his girlfriend Sarah and he loved his dog Max, a big black Labrador.”

Restaurateur Neville Sidebottom, who worked with Martin at Politic bar and restaurant, said: “He was one of the most genuine, loyal and caring people I have met in Chester. My heart goes out to Sarah because I know how much they meant to each other. That’s perhaps the saddest thing of all.”