Obituary of Martin Clutton-Brock

Martin Clutton-Brock, PhD 

October 7, 1932 – July 31, 2023 

“Promise me you’ll always remember, you’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh 

Martin was born in Bexhill, Sussex, United Kingdom on October 7, 1932. As an only child he delighted in playing in their garden and considered studying entomology. He attended the prestigious Gordonstoun School boarding school which he declared was a ‘painful part of his life!’ After high school he completed two years of military service in the British Airforce.

Martin’s education then continued with undergrad degrees in math and physics from the University of Cambridge, UK, a Masters in Astronomy from the University of Victoria, BC and he completed his PhD in Astronomy at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. He was a post-doc at Bexhill College, UK, Newcastle University, UK, University of Brighton, UK, and the University of Toronto, ON.

Martin accepted a position as a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg where he taught until his mandatory retirement at age 65 in 1997. To his last days, Martin expressed regret that he had to retire as he loved teaching and working with students. His view was that Astronomy was ‘a very romantic area of study’.

Martin met his wife, Elizabeth Nicol, at a graduate student meeting at the University of Victoria where she was studying for her master's in history. They married in Nelson, BC on May 6, 1967, which they declared was their Centennial project. They had just celebrated their 56^th wedding anniversary I 2023.

An avid reader, Martin collected an extensive library of books on such topics as physics, mathematics, biology, philosophy, history, cosmology, and astronomy as well as books on artists and their work, cartoons, young adult novels and he adored the philosophy of life found in Winnie the Pooh. He owned a lot of books! 

He was currently writing a graphic novel about astronomy for which he was doing the sketching.  Martin had an artistic and creative side which was expressed through his work in several theatre companies and as Master of Ceremonies for his wife, Elizabeth’s English Country Dancing group. His most successful dramatic venture was as lecturer in Astronomy at the University of Manitoba. He wrote one-man plays portraying the astronomers Newton, Copernicus, Kepler, Brahe and Galileo, describing their lives and theories while in character. He dressed in historical garb for the performances for which he often received applause and standing ovations from the students.  

Martin was an ardent vegetarian, loved East Indian food and felt good dark chocolate should be its own food group. He and Elizabeth spent the last four years living quietly in Regina where they had moved to be closer to family.  

He will be missed by his wife Elizabeth; close family, Doug and Shauna Coons, Stephanie, Evan, Adalynn and Everleigh Jones, and Jonathan Coons and Mae Cary; and close friends, David, Lori, Scott, and Graeme Patrick.