New year surprise from New Zealand

A REMARKABLE blast from the past landed on the doormat of a former All Saints School footballer in the new year.
Bearing a hand-written address limited to "William Weeks, Seabourne Road, Bexhill" and stamps and post marks from New Zealand, the myserious envelope contained quite a surprise for the puzzled pensioner.
For inside, Mr Weeks found a picture of the 1932 to 1933 All Saints football team featuring his brother, along with a letter from an old school pal he hadn't heard from in decades.
It turned out Len Cox, now of Marton, New Zealand, was sent a cutting from the Hastings Observer several weeks ago showing a picture of the 1930-1931 All Saints team, which was submitted by Mr Weeks.
This had inspired him to get in touch from 'down under'.
"It was just a wonderful surprise to receive this on January 4," said Mr Weeks. "Considering it was posted on December 28, and the address on the envelope is only a road name, it's a credit to the postal service that it got to me so quickly.
"It was a marvellous treat for the new year.
"My brother remembers Len Cox well, and I recognise some of the people in this picture.
"The wizard of the team was George Hoad (fourth from right, bottom row). He scored most of the goals and was really a very good footballer. I know he later had trials for one of the London clubs."
He added: "After school, I played football for Hastings very briefly, but I wasn't really very good!"
In his letter, Len Cox recalled how Mr White, on the left in the picture, would take the boys out for practice on Friday afternoons.
"It was a wonderful time then," he added. "So different to now, almost an innocent age. It brings back some lovely memories."