SIXTY years ago when Bill Matten married Sheila, she was told she was marrying sport. It was quite true, footballer Bill turned to cricket, and both Bill and Sheila have been involved in Sandford Cricket Club ever since.

Bill and Sheila Matten were married at Lapford Parish Church on September 30, 1950. Sheila had been born at Chenson; her parents lived in the Old Toll House and her father was a lorry driver with Ambrosia at Lapford.

Later they moved to Barris at Lapford, Sheila going to the school there, (now the Youth Club premises), until she was 14, as did most people then in those days. She remembers some of the teachers being evacuees.

Bill is a Sandford man. His father, Dod, was the last gamekeeper for the Creedy Estate. In 1945 Bill joined the RAF for his National Service, going to India for a year.

When he came out in 1948 he returned to work for solicitors Sparkes and Co, (where the office of Charlesworth Nicholl and Co is now).

Bill recalls that at the time of his golden wedding anniversary he had also been working for 50 years and served Sandford Cricket Club for 50 years. He is now president and the only surviving life member of the club.

When the club was set up, Bill was playing football for Sandford. Sheila scored for the cricket club for several years as well as helping with the teas. Their son, Phil, has been involved with the club for a number of years, too.

When Sheila left school it was during the last World War and she helped a family in Lapford. After the war she took a job with Bristow's of Devon at Crediton, where the milk factory is now, becoming cashier. In those days Sheila remembers it was the Milco factory.

Later she worked at Crediton Library, which was in the former Liberal Club, now the Gen Sir Redvers Buller public house.

Their first home was at Sandford. "It was a one-up, one-down cottage we rented for five shillings (25p) a week," remembered Sheila. "Our combined wages were £8 a week!"

Later they moved to Crofts at Sandford and 41 years ago, to their present home on Greenway at Crediton and Sheila worked at the Library.

"We met when Sheila was a member of the Girls' Training Corps during the War, and I was in the Air Training Corps. We met at Copplestone on one of the combined events. The ATC used to meet at the old Town Hall in Crediton," said Bill.

They have two grandchildren and one great grand daughter. Bill and Sheila celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with party at Sandford Cricket Club, when they raised £465 for the Exeter cancer charity, FORCE.

Bill is an honorary member of Crediton Rotary Club.

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