Works in our collections
Martin was the President of the Cornwall Federation of Women's Institutes from 1931-36 and from 1943-44.
As well as her book Do You Know Cornwall? (1936), she was responsible for Cornish Recipes, Ancient & Modern (1935) which gathered together pasty recipes from various members of the WI in Cornwall. Some of the pasty fillings gathered in the book (including broccoli, dates, mackerel, and rice pudding) might raise an eyebrow among modern pasty purists.
Martin was the first Honorary Secretary of the National Federation of Women's Institutes Executive Committee, and was the first Cornish Voluntary County Organiser (VCO). She also served on the NFWI Executive Committee between 1927 and 1943 and was a member of the NFWI Agriculture sub-committee.
She was made a Cornish bard in 1933, taking the name Benen Benenes, meaning 'Women's Woman'.