Graham Greene
It is with sincere regret that we announce the death of Martin Jenkins who passed away peacefully on 1 March with his children Serena and Leo at his side. Martin cut a dapper and immaculately-dressed figure at Festival time: always courteous, always affable, always welcoming to those new to the event or on their own. He was the epitome of the ‘loyal supporter’.
But there was more. Martin has left us an important and lasting legacy for which all those with an interest in Graham Greene should be grateful. (left: Martin with Frances Assa) Martin fought a long and ultimately successful battle with the Greater London Council to have a blue plaque placed on the house at 14 Clapham Common, North Side (right) where the author lived with his wife and two children during the 1930s. Martin gave a fascinating account of his one-person campaign in 2011 in a talk entitled ‘At last – the blue plaque’. Now that corner of Clapham Common, so vividly described in the 1951 novel The End of the Affair, will always form an unmissable destination for those interested in following the ‘Greene trail’ across London.
Rest in peace Martin, you will be missed.