Profile: Richard Martin

About This Author

Richard Martin is a retired Chartered Civil Engineer who grew up in Africa. He worked on many large construction projects in UK, Africa, and the Middle East. In UK these included the M1 Motorway, Port Talbot Harbour Breakwater, and stabilizing the White Cliffs of Dover. He built wharves and jetties in Mombasa, and roads and buildings in Nigeria. After working in Oman for the Oman Ministry of Defence, principally in Dhofar, he spent the remainder of his career in Saudi Arabia on the Al Yamamah Project, Britain’s biggest export contract. He learnt to adapt to different cultures and national behaviors, dealing with labourers, Princes and Generals. He speaks Swahili and a little Arabic, French, and German. Most of his overseas life was spent in military surroundings while employed as a civilian. In his spare time, he was a TA Bomb Disposal Officer and helped start up “The World’s Strongest Man” competition (now on TV). In Saudi Arabia, he represented the Institution of Civil Engineers and ran the Professional Engineers Group of Saudi Arabia.