A lifesaving club in Cornwall has paid tribute to its president following his death aged 67. 

Portreath Life Saving Club have shared an emotional tribute to John Martin MBE who was also lifelong member of the club. 

A post shared on its Facebook on Wednesday reads: "A stalwart of Surf Life Saving has been lost.

"Life Member and recently appointed club president John Martin MBE, event director of ILS, has passed away.

"He lost his fight against cancer and died peacefully at the age of 67, surrounded by his wife and family.

"John’s devotion to Surf Life Saving will live on for years.

"Our thoughts are with his family."

Falmouth Packet: John with his MBE John with his MBE (Image: Portreath Life Saving Club)

National charity, Surf Life Saving GB has also shared an insight into John's long career with Surf Life Saving. 

Born in Cornwall, John joined the Portreath Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) at the age of 18. He was Cornwall region chairman in 1986, then SLSGB vice-chairman in 1988 and Chairman of SLSGB from 1990 to 1995. 

In 1994 when he was elected to the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) board of directors and has represented SLSGB in Europe at the World Level for almost 30 years. 

Since 1998 John had been proud to serve SLSGB continuously as a member of the Board of Trustees, including nine years until 2007 as the director of Sport.

His true calling, however, was as an Official. John was fortunate again to be appointed as the chief referee for the Rescue 94 World Championships at Fistral Beach, Newquay and then served as the Chief Referee for the next four Masters World Championships from 1996 to 2002.

He continued to officiate at every World Championships before moving on to commentating.

In 2009 John was awarded an MBE for services to lifesaving and also appointed as an ILS Grand Knight in the Order of Lifesaving.

Falmouth Packet: John passed away at the age of 67 John passed away at the age of 67 (Image: Portreath Life Saving Club)

Already appointed as a Life Member of SLSGB from 1998, in November 2018, John received what for him is possibly the most important recognition, when he was made a Life Member of Portreath SLSC.

John said he was ‘truly humbled’ to be made the president of Portreath SLSC.

For more than 38 years, John’s profession was as a Civil Servant with half of that time spent working in fraud investigation for the Department for Work and Pensions.

However, in 2017, having spent so many years working at a voluntary level, John was pleased to be asked to work full-time for the ILS as their Events Director in July 2017.

A spokesperson from Surf Live Saving GB said: “There will be a huge hole left in the world of lifesaving without John and he will be dearly missed by all.”