David Evershed-Martin

David Evershed-Martin who died recently at the age of 74 was a long standing member of the ISCLS. His father before him was one of the (near) original founders and introduced David to the Society at an early age. David himself was Secretary when I was inducted into the ISCLS. He also held the Herschel medal—which is the Society’s highest honour.

Brought up in Chichester in West Sussex where his Father was active on the local Council and became Mayor, David nevertheless decided after qualifying that London should be his patch and he worked for many years out of a lovely house in Upper Berkeley Street behind Marble Arch.

He built up a large and loyal following ably helped by his wife Jill who did all the ancillary work of the practice. Contact lenses were his love and he was determined to give his patients the very best of what was then available and of course over the years every sort and type of lens and material would have found its way into the clinic.

He was able to considerably broaden his expertise by working part time in Norway, and part time in Jersey disappearing for a few days every month to fit patients there. He also had at one time two other practices in London.

David was renowned for his thoroughness and for his meticulous record keeping.
He would keep verbatim notes of what patient’s said to him at the examinations and would be able to quote these back to the patient at later date should some dispute or question arise.

David qualified at the (now) City University in 1961 after he had spent time in the Royal Navy as a conscript under National Service. He was able to entertain with tales of cockroaches or rats running along the hot water pipes above his head when in his bunk and of coming home on leave with exotic presents for himself or his family obtained from foreign ports. We served together on the Students Union and kept the friendship going until the last. David kept his connections too with the University and was a member of the N’Ions, the University Alumni organization. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (a City Livery company) and was a past Master of the Company and did his best to re-organise the charity fund by encouraging members to add a donation when writing their wills.

David and Jill lived a very intense life together often being at functions or events every night. Music, theatre, opera, ballet and art were all passions and between London, Chichester, and Glyndbourne these passions could be satisfied, but David was also passionate about people and made many friendships from all areas of his life. His funeral in Chichester Cathedral was a testament to that as so many people turned up to honour him.

The opportunity to spend part of the week in London and part in Chichester came when the family home there became available to buy after his father’s death and David took the opportunity to do so. He also set up a clinic there.

The house in West Street has a walled garden and David was thus able to enjoy another of his passions about which he was very knowledgeable. He was usually unable to resist buying plants given half an opportunity and the garden was his pride and joy. The walled aspect and Southern clime usually meant everything succeeded and David and Jill could sit out in their summerhouse over a breakfast or lunch and enjoy nature in the City.

The ISCLS gives opportunities to travel and David was spellbound by the changing aspect of the mountains when the ISCLS held its’ meeting in Israel and he travelled through Sinai from Eilat and watched the sun setting over the mountains of Saudia Arabia. He had to stop the car every few moments in order to take yet another picture, but photography was another hobby.

His Father had founded the Chichester Festival Theatre after seeing what Sir William Tyrone Guthrie had done in Canada and David felt very close to the project, eventually becoming Chairman of the Theatre and the Theatre Trust. Sir Laurence Olivier became the first theatre Director. He suffered for a few years with stomach cancer and this finally ended his life but David was not one to complain and was always as active as his state allowed. He died at home in Chichester right by his beloved garden with Jill , Justin and new wife Tessa at his side.