Sadness at death of osteopath Mark
NEWS of the unexpected death of the well-known and respected osteopath Mark Porter has caused deep shock and sadness in Wexford where he ran a successful practice in St. Peter’s Square.
Mark (48) of 33 Beechlawn, Clonard, Wexford died on January 23 close to his childhood family home in the beautiful South Downs National Park location of Liss village near Petersfield, East Hampshire in the UK, where he grew up.
The eldest of four sons of Brian and Sara Porter, he is survived by his grieving family including his wife Ann (nee Mullen); son Josh (15); daughter Isobel (6); his parents; his brothers Peter, Andrew and Simon; his nieces and nephews and his extended relatives and many friends in Ireland the the UK.
Mark was educated in England, attending the private, co-educational Churcher’s College in Petersfield and on leaving school he travelled to Israel for a time before making the decision to become a nurse. He trained with the Royal Free Hospital in London, working as a senior staff nurse in Accident and Emergency in two London hospitals, Guys and St. Thomas.
His strong interest in sport, having competed at county and international level in rugby and karate, also led him to qualify as a sports therapist.
He studied Osteopathy at the British School of Osteopathy, graduating in 1997 with an BSc Honours Degree after four years of full-time education, and worked in London, Cornwall and Merrion Square in Dublin before eventually opening his own clinic in St. Peter’s Square in Wexford in 1999 after he and Ann, a social worker with the HSE, settled in the area. The couple initially built a house in Baldwinstown and moved into town in 2004.
He became a certified acupuncturist after a further three years of study which was followed by time spent training in China. A senior lecturer at the Irish College of Osteopathic Medicine, he taught Osteopathy for two years at undergraduate level. He was a registered member of the General Osteopathic Council which has extended heartfelt sympathy to his family, and of The Acupuncture Foundation of Ireland.
Mark had a special interest in body mechanics and the rehabilitation of both athletes and people presenting with non-athletic injuries. He studied dynamic neuromuscular rehabilitation at Masters level at the Prague School of Rehabilitation.
A 4th Dan Black Belt in Karate, he trained in and taught martial arts over many years. He was the founder of Wexford Mixed Martial Arts Club and a former member of Wexford Kickboxing Club. His life-long interest in martial arts began at the age of eight when he started Judo training. Aged 18, he joined Morio Higoanna’s karate association and in 1993, he trained full-time at its headquarters in California for four months.
He gave up karate in 1997 to embrace a more realistic cross-training approach and trained in Muay-Thai, a kick-boxing martial art. He also trained in Thai boxing in Thailand and taught and trained around the world.
Mark set up the first ever Wexford Mixed Martial Arts Club, based in Mannix Place and ran it for several years. For the past three year, he had been an active member of Menapia Mixed Martial Arts, based in Westpoint, Clonard and had been working towards his Blue Belt in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu.
Fellow members of the club were stunned by his death and at their session on Thursday night last, they stood for a minute of respectful silence in his honour, placing a Blue Belt on the empty mat that would have been his, and afterwards hanging the belt in a permanent position on the wall, in his memory.
‘He contributed a lot to the club and will be sadly missed’, said friend and club leader John Keeling who was inundated with phone calls of concern from members after the news of Mark’s death began circulating in Wexford last week. ‘He was kind and caring and brave. He was a gentleman,’ said John.
Mark was also a former member of the Board of Management of the Educate Together primary school in Wexford which his son attended. An adoring father, he had a very close bond with Josh and his daughter Isobel who joined the family in 2011 following her adoption from Russia. He was an intelligent, strong and caring family man with a quirky view on life who adored animals and was devoted to his wheaten terrier Sally. He enjoyed a pint in the Sky and the Ground on a Saturday night.
Mark will be sadly missed by his heartbroken family, his friends and also by his clients. His family have received many expressions of sympathy and support following his untimely death - friends from Wexford telephoned to offer condolences to the Porters on their loss.
Mark died tragically in a place he loved, near the idyllic home on 10 acres of woodland in the beautiful South Downs where he grew up and to which he returned frequently for visits. He had been staying there since early December. His funeral service will be held at Havant Crematorium in Hamspire on February 6. Extended family. His ashes will be scattered in the garden of the family home in Liss, one of his favourite places in the world.