Town Talk


A CHARITY football match played in mem- ory of two Snodland footballers raised £335 for Demelza House Children’s Hospice. Steve McMorrow, landlord of the Freema-


sons Arms public house in Ham Hill, Snod- land, was manager of the Snodland team which won the Kent Premier Division in 1999-2000 and was runner-up the following year. He died in June. Symon Wall played for the club and was


killed in a moto-cross accident in Germany seven years ago. Simon Kingsbury said a number of the re-


tired players at Steve’s funeral decided a memorial game should be played for Steve and Symon. He helped organised the game because he was still in contact with many of the older players. The Snodland Vets, who included a num-


ber of current players and Steve’s son, Har- vey, beat Holtwood Rangers Vets 5-0. “Everybody had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon,” said Simon. “Some of the lads had not kicked a ball since we won the league in 2000, so there would have been a few hurting bodies the following day.”


Group’s grants


THE Snodland Partnership has given Snodland Community Cricket Club £4,500 towards a new roller. The partnership gives money


to clubs and organisations in the town. At its last meeting it was agreed to give Townsend Hook Bowls Club £600 to help im- prove its car park, £1,500 to the Devonshire Rooms Pre-Schools for improvements to the garden in front of its building and £1,000 to the town council towards the cost of a picnic table on the recreation ground.


The Snodland Vets team, and right, Martin Truscott receives the cup from Symon Wall’s brother Chris, and Hayley Honey


He thanked Snodland Town Football Club


for the use of the pitch and kit, and Hayley Honey, Steve’s partner, for providing the re- freshments in the Freemasons Arms after the game. Simon hoped that, following the success


of the event, there would be a veterans game at least once a year.


Fill a shoebox with festive gifts


THE annual shoe box appeal to provide Christmas presents for deprived people in eastern Eu- rope has been launched in Snodland. Residents are asked to fill a


shoe box with small gifts and take them to the Blythswood Care charity shop in the High Street. From there, they will be taken to deserving people in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosova, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. The boxes can be for chil- dren and adults and can in-


Couple celebrate their diamond anniversary


STEVE and Doreen Bullen raised a glass in August to celebrate their move to Snodland 50 years ago and last month they were cele- brating again – their diamond wedding. The couple met in London,


where the garden of Steve’s mother’s house backed on to the garden of Doreen’s grand- mother’s house. She was a friend of his younger sister. Steve served in the Royal Engi-


neers and when on leave often met Doreen visiting his mother. Dates to the cinema followed, and they married 60 years ago in Lee Green, south east London. They lived in a flat inCatford be-


fore moving to their current home in Dryland Road. Steve drove lorries for many


years before becoming a rep for Artex wall covering. He retired 20 years ago as technical sales man- ager, after 30 years with the com- pany.


Nowadays, he spends much of


his time tending his large garden. Doreen is a book keeper and worked for insurance brokers, Marks and Spencer, and was also manageress of a ladies clothing shop before their son, Gary, was born.


Gary is now a quantitative sur-


veyor and runs KitchenDesigns in Sevenoaks. Doreen has worked for him for 23 years. She said: “I do the book work


and have no plans to retire. All the time I can do it, I will.”


clude toiletries, underwear, T- shirts, pyjamas, stationery such as pens, pencils, notepads, colouring books, small toys and sweets (wrapped). Filled boxes can be taken to


the shop between November 8 and 22. The Snodland churches, All Saints and Christ Church, are also supporting a shoe box ap- peal for recipients a bit closer to home. They will go to Pils- don Manor, in Water Lane, West Malling.


Rev Hugh Broadbent said:


“This year we are going to en- courage people to bring shoe box donations to church to support the new food bank that has been started at the Pilsdon Community.” The community seeks to pro-


vide an environment where people can rebuild their lives after experiencing a crisis, and offers a safe home for those working through depression, alcoholism, addiction, divorce or bereavement.


Happy birthday, Grace!


third centenar- ian celebrated her 100th birth- day last month with a lunch with family and friends. Grace, who


was born in Penge, Croy- don, has lived in


Ostlers


Court since 1987. She is sprightly and has an excellent memory. She says she has “travelled around a lot” and has lived and worked all over the country. Grace was married to husband, Joseph, for 20 years and has


been a widow since 1969. “I had one of the best men going and he is still missed,” she


said. She does not think the world has improved over the years. “Nowadays there is too much grab and too much trying to be


better than other people. However, I have had a very happy life and have no regrets.” Grace did not have children. She is pictured with her niece, Barbara Spencer, and her husband, Keith, who live in Halling.


WHEN Grace Spencer was born, King George V had been on the throne for three years. She has also seen 24 British prime ministers hold office. Snodland’s


Local news for Snodland and Halling Veterans remember former team mates


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