Lionel Walker Birch Martin (1878-1945). Racing car driver and automobile engineer, Lionel Martin was born and raised in Cornwall, until he was sent as a boarder to Eton. As a result of the maternal wealth (Birch) side of the family’s interest in the china clay industry, eventually becoming English China Clays, his was a relatively affluent childhood, and his shareholding in various family companies kept him comfortably provided for the rest of his life. When Martin was at school he was given a bicycle by his mother. He took it to Oxford where he took part in races as well as the banked venues in London. He soon turned to road riding and all his future cycling exploits were on tricycles, a vehicle similar to a bicycle, but having three wheels, two at the back and one at the front. a popular machine in the period before WW1.
In 1913, Lionel wins against all odds racing coasts of Aston Clinton in Berkshire in England with his car facing competing Stutz 4.9 L and Bentleys 4.5 L. With this success, Lionel Martin manufactures and markets its prototype Coal Scuttle in 1914 with his partner Robert Bamford under the brand Aston Martin. Lionel Martin took over the management of the brand following the withdrawal of Robert Bamford in 1920. Lionel Martin left Bamford & Martin in 1926. From then on he dedicated himself to its second passion, bicycles. On 14th October, 1945, now a relatively old man, he was entangled into a traffic accident, knocked down and killed while tricycling to his home in Kingston.