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Video: Matthew Hollox on the Deal leg of his journey
by Beth Easton
After walking over 10 miles from Margate to Deal, Matthew Hollox who is on the Kent leg of a fundraising walk around Britain, was greeted with a pie from Rooks Butchers and a slap up roast beef dinner.
Wheeling a fridge freezer covered in stickers of soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan, the 50 year-old arrived in the town centre at 4.45pm Wednesday and spent the night at Cllr Julie Rook’s family home.
He said: "I’ve met some really nice people on my way. It leaves a lump in your throat, the British people are so kind."
The divorced bus driver from Nottingham set off 37 days ago from his home and has been collecting cash along the way to pay for a monument to fallen soldiers at Wooton Bassett.
One whose picture is on the fridge which contains all his clothes, is Sarah Bryant, 26, the first British female soldier to die in the conflict.
"It’s quite apt because I’ve named the fridgefreezer after her.
"She had such a beautiful face and looks really bubbly in the picture, we just fell in love with her," he added.
Residents in Deal and Dover have been stopping their cars or crossing over the street to part with their money for the cause.
Matthew added: "I was delayed one day in Coventry when a muscle popped out of my leg.
"Someone gave me a cold compress and straight away, the muscle popped straight back in."
He spent Wednesday night at Cllr Julie Rook's Union Road home.
Cllr Mrs Rook said: "I thought I could ring round and find somewhere to stay but then I thought 'well he could come to me'.
Cllr Rook, whose 18 year-old son, Tom, is joining the army, added: "I think it’s a really good cause and I take my hat off to him."
Details of how you can donate to the fund can be found on the Monumental Walk website.