FORMER civil engineer Martyn Thresh, who helped design major roads including Holes Bay Road, the Ferndown bypass and Fleetsbridge flyover, has died aged 73.

Martyn was born in October 1944 in Weymouth to parents Irena and Henry and was one of four siblings. He spent his childhood kindling his passion for railways and steam locomotives, ensuring his paper round route finished at Weymouth Engine sheds.

In 1968 he graduated from Plymouth University with a degree in civil engineering and embarked on a career in this field. After spending a brief few months in Nottingham, he returned to Dorset and started working for Dorset County Council, in their Highways department, where he remained until his retirement.

Martyn worked on numerous projects across Dorset including the Fleetsbridge flyover, the Ferndown bypass and Holes Bay Road in the 1980s, as well as Ashley Heath interchange in the 90s. Most recently he was senior engineer on the Weymouth Relief Road, as part of Weymouth’s preparations for the 2012 Olympics. While on the Weymouth project, he was selected to show Princes Anne around the site and introduce key members of the team to the royal visitor.

Martyn met his future wife, Annette, in 1970 and went on to marry her in St Peter’s Church, Church Knowle on June 16, 1973. After moving to Poole in 1983, his son Roger was born in 1985 followed by daughter Helen in 1990. In 2014 be became a grandad to Ryan and again to Leah in 2017.

Outside of his work and family life, railways and steam locomotives were still his passion. He joined the Bournemouth Railway Club in 1979 and became a committee member in 1981.

He quickly rose up through the committee and was elected chairperson in 1986. Martyn was a very hands on chairperson and wasn’t afraid to take on the organising of many jobs to relieve other members of the committee, so they could concentrate on their official tasks.

Outside of the railway club he fed his passion with regular trips around the country, ‘chasing’ special steam hauled trains and adding to his growing railway memorabilia collection. He could often be found standing on a bridge with his camera pointing down the railway line. He was also a life member of Swanage Railway.

Once retired he fully immersed himself into being a governor at Bishop Aldhelm's Primary School, Branksome. He was a very popular member of the governing body, working with three head teachers during his term and becoming chairperson of the Premises Committee.

Once again, he used the skills he learned in his career and became the main driver behind several construction projects at the school, overseeing the building of two new, purpose-built buildings.

Later in retirement, Martyn became unwell and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s low-grade Lymphoma and was treated with a course of chemotherapy. But during this period he continued to follow his passion of railways and enjoy time with Annette. However, after being in remission for a little over 18 months the symptoms came back, but this time a high-grade T-Cell Lymphoma was diagnosed, and a more intensive course of chemotherapy was prescribed.

Martyn lost all his hair but continued to live his life to the full. A few months after his last round of chemotherapy, the symptoms returned again, but this time the disease had mutated again, and no effective treatments were available.

Martyn lost his battle with Lymphoma in Forest Holme Hospice on Tuesday, June 26, and was laid to rest following a service at St Aldhelm's Church on Monday, July 9.

Donations, if desired, can be made to the Swanage Railway Moguls Trust and Forest Holme Hospice via Ives and Shand funeral directors in Ashley Road, Parkstone. Alternatively, visit funeraldirector.co.uk/funeral/martyn-thresh/