Martin Honeysett 20 May 1943 – 20 January 2015
Martin’s funeral took place on a wet, windy Friday 13th in Hastings, attended by several PCO members and significant folk from his publishing past, including Richard Ingrams, Tony Rushton and Martin Rowson. The crematorium was packed to the rafters – a powerful appreciation of a man who was loved for his personal qualities as much for his brilliant, wicked cartoons. His wicker coffin sat there, adorned only with one of his famous hats.
Among the many generous tributes were reminiscences from his lovely daughter Sophie, Tony Rushton of Private Eye and others – but perhaps the most memorable reading came from an old friend, Bob Mazzer. a well-known local photographer. He has known Martin for decades, and recalls that they had an instant sense of connection when they first met. This is perhaps not surprising – like Martin, Bob is an unassuming, self-effacing genius. In recognition of Martin’s incarnation as a London bus driver, he read the following:
The Bus Driver’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in Hendon,
Harrow Road be thy name.
Thy Kingston come,
Thy Wimbledon
In Erith as it is in Hendon.
Give us this day our Berkhampstead
And forgive us our Westminsters,
As we forgive those who Westminster against us.
Lead us not into Temple Station,
And deliver us from Ealing.
For thine is the Kingston,
The Purley and the Crawley,
For Iver and Iver,
Crouch End.
It was a fitting tribute in a ceremony which was poignant, moving and funny. Martin would have approved.