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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
CHAMBERS, Martin Geoffrey Crompton - Larger than life, Martin was born on December 7th 1939 in Victoria BC and died on July 1st Canada Day, 2022.
Born to a Scottish/Irish family who immigrated to Canada in 1905 and god-son of renowned BC conservationist Roderick Haig-Brown, Martin's passion from an early age was fishing and experiencing the West Coast in all its elements. Attending Shawnigan Lake School and Victoria High, Martin went on to Victoria College where he met lifelong friend Bob Mitchell and then to study economics at UBC before joining the naval reserve. He taught for a year at the London School of Economics and eventually read law at Oxford University (Merton). After articling in Vancouver, Martin established a successful legal and business career in that city in the late 60's and 70's before beginning a fascination with business practices and characters that landed him in varying cauldrons of hot water throughout the rest of his life.
Martin embraced life with a fullness and tenacity that was legendary. Remarkably cheating death through more than his share of nine lives in a parade of boat, float plane and motorcycle accidents and happily taking nobody else with him during the adventures despite many injuries and close calls. Even at the age of 79, Martin survived capsizing his vessel in the Nitinat bar with waves up to 5 meters high, pulling himself to shore and bush-whacking all the way back home dragging his son Francis along for the ride and never once showing fear. Martin was beyond driven and had no 'off' button until his final moment. An insatiable reader, he always had high stacks of wide-ranging books on hand, and would block up the family's single bathroom in this pursuit, often for hours.
A brilliant mind, lawyer and businessman with a near photographic memory and sometimes terrible judge of character, Martin was tenacious, pugnacious, complicated and could be difficult. He was a man of strong contrasts, who lived his life very much on his own terms. He loved and loathed strongly, and relationships could be tempestuous. Martin aroused passions and loyalties. Not always an easy husband or father, he nonetheless left an indelible mark on his family and those around him.
Building houses at remote coastal locations such as Clo-oose, Megin River and Cape Scott encapsulated Martin's extraordinary love of this coast and all things fishing, as well as a passion for the deep time history of his home place. Lifetime friends involved in these and many other adventures too numerous to name included Czech immigrant Paul Chevalina, Haida artist Bill Reid, architect Rudy Kovach, Ditidaht entrepreneur Carl Edgar Jn and Haida indigenous leader Miles Richardson. An early advocate and pro-bono lawyer and strategist for First Nations rights, especially regarding regaining traditional territory and resources, Martin maintained deep ties to the Ditidaht and Haida Nations among others and early on felt an angry and deep sense of injustice and wrong for what has been done through residential schools and colonization. He did what he could during his lifetime to right this.
In Francis' words, "Most importantly, Martin never forgot about his family. He was not the type to show love through affection, instead he always demonstrated it through his actions. At the age when most normal people would retire and seek comfort after a lifetime of traveling and making deals, Martin never stopped working to help support his family. Every day, he would get up around 5 to 6 in the morning, receive a call from his good friend Ian Rayner, then proceed to work on his various business ventures and projects for the rest of the day before retiring at around dinner to walk his loyal dog, Whyack. Martin loved doing deals more than anything. He had an astonishing ability to see the big picture instead of being bogged down in the minute detail and his mind remained sharp until his last day. Because of this, Martin never took the time to slow down and relax and that is why he had such a rich and vibrant life but at the same time, a quick and unexpected death. But we all knew he would always go out not with a whimper, but a bang, for his greatest fear was being physically and mentally incapable of living the active lifestyle he had. And no matter how bad things got today, and they often did with a headstrong person like Martin, we always knew the next day we could count on him to help us with whatever we needed. That was just the type of person he was, underneath the stoic persona he harboured a deep love for his family. He was the lighthouse to our ship, the stalwart beacon guiding us through the night across the bar and keeping us safe. Martin was a force, and there will not be another like him."
Predeceased by his father Alan Chambers (1981), step father Alfred St. George 'Tommy' Hamersley Bey (1978), mother Francis Ethel Shaen Hamersley (1988) and his first wife artist Danae Eleanor Chambers (Williams). Survived by his second wife Sarah Richardson and third spouse Qing 'Queenie' Zhang. Children Adam (Hayley), Shaen (Caroline), Fiona (Daniel) and Francis. Grandchildren Sonja, Erika, Hayden, Ben, Scarlett and Morgan; niece Jacqueline Edstrom. And his faithful chocolate Labrador, Whyack.
A private celebration of life will be held on August 22nd for close family and associates with a west coast wake of Martin's life to follow in spring 2023, location and details to be announced.
Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea. (Tennyson
'Crossing of the Bar', 1889)
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