Selby Martin (LI 1946-50) died aged 93. A member of the wartime generation, he was evacuated from his Kent prep school to Scotland, where he enjoyed an idyllic childhood of fishing and freedom, spared the Blitz that threatened his family home near a V1 crash site in 1944.

He went on to become a distinguished linguist and diplomat, serving in demanding Cold War postings across Russia, Bulgaria, Bolivia and Pakistan. Fluent in several languages, he combined intellectual curiosity with resilience, yet retained a lifelong love of the countryside.

At Marlborough College, early homesickness soon gave way to inspiration from exceptional teachers, shaping his later career as a schoolmaster at Shrewsbury. There he shared his passions for fishing and nature, often taking boys to Lake Vyrnwy, and remained a devoted angler throughout his life.

During quieter diplomatic years in Bolivia, he researched the Bolivian Andean lakes, submitting work to the Natural History Museum. Back in Shropshire, he became a tireless conservationist, serving as Chairman of the Council for the Protection of Rural England in Shropshire and campaigning to preserve local landscapes. His efforts—including saving the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury with actor Robert Hardy —were recognised with an MBE, awarded by King Charles in 2023.

Following National Service in the RAF, where he was sent to man a radar station in Norfolk, much of it spent fishing while stationed in Norfolk, Selby chose eventually to leave diplomacy for a quieter life in Shropshire. As a teacher, he was fair-minded, quietly mischievous, and deeply committed to his pupils.

Guided by a strong Christian faith, he was a regular churchgoer in Shrewsbury for over fifty years. He is survived by his wife Rachel and their three children, Jess, Tim and David.