Personal Pilgrimage Marked by Remembrance and Loss Hadlow, Kent — July 2025

Paul Moriarty

This July, I returned to Hadlow, Kent, for the first time in three years—a journey rooted in remembrance, as I visited my mother’s grave. It was an emotional pilgrimage, marked not only by reflection but also by reconnection with old friends. Yet the visit also brought sorrow, as I learned of the passing of my friend Paul Moriarty.

Paul died on February 2, 2025. To many, he was more than just a familiar face—he was a storyteller, a gentleman, and a beloved regular at the Carpenters Arms pub on 3 Elm Lane in Golden Green. I was introduced to him through his son, Mark, and over time, we formed a genuine friendship built on shared conversations, laughter, and mutual respect.

We would meet during Bank Holidays and around Christmas at the Carpenters Arms. Paul often shared stories about Deptford—tales full of colour and history, things I’d never known. He had a natural gift for storytelling, and his warmth made you feel as though you’d known him forever. I believe he may have visited the area as a hop picker in his younger days—a tradition rooted in the lives of many Londoners of his generation.

Born on September 23, 1938, in Deptford, Paul H. Moriarty lived an extraordinary life. Before finding his way into acting, he worked as a docker and had a background in boxing. It was during his time at the Surrey Commercial Docks that he caught the attention of a film crew who encouraged him to try acting—a twist of fate that changed his life.

To avoid confusion with another actor of the same name, he adopted the stage name P. H. Moriarty and went on to enjoy a long and distinguished career. His roles in films like Quadrophenia, Scum, and A Sense of Freedom are etched in British cinema history. His final film appearance came in Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins (2021), capping a career that spanned decades.

Paul’s television credits stretched back to 1978, starting with Law & Order, and included numerous gritty dramas that benefited from his authentic presence and unmistakable gravitas.

Hearing of his passing was deeply saddening. I want to express my sincere condolences to the Moriarty family.

“Paul was a true gentleman, and I feel privileged to have known him. He will be sorely missed.”

My visit to Hadlow became much more than a return—it was a personal journey of remembrance, reconnection, and reflection. Though marked by grief, I also found gratitude: for lasting friendships, shared memories, and the enduring legacy of those who leave their mark on our lives.

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Remembering Tommy Martin Heavy weight Boxer from Deptfod

Tommy Martin

Hello,

I found your website and I am in search of information about 1930's boxer from Deptford Tommy Martin and his family. He was my grandfather. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Seems like there were quite a few boxers from Deptford.  Sounds like it was a pretty tough area. My mom said that my grandfather, as a kid, was the leader of a gang of mischief. I know my great grandmother Annie Martin had 9 children and was probably so busy, it was difficult to keep up with him. I know they used to go around and put out the street lights as soon as they were lit! I was privileged to know my grandfather, his sister Phyllis Martin Saunders and my great grandmother Annie Martin... they all moved to St. Croix, USVI, where I was born and grew up. 

Many thanks 

Judy  McMann

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/34776

https://boxingnewsonline.net/remembering-tommy-martin-britains-brown-bomber/

Connections between Deptford and Greenwich for the Marsh Family

 

Hi, great blog in Deptford. 

My family moved there in the early 1800’s from Dorset. My great great grandfather died in the Greenwich workhouse. 

This picture of a family wedding shows my great grandmother Rose Marsh 2nd from left front row. 3rd from the right is my great grandfather who was blacklisted by the great western railways for union activity. He had 14 children and they lived in extreme poverty in a house in Edward street. 

At the back on the right nearly faded out are my grandmother who was born in Swindon but left school at 12 because her father a farm labourer was killed in an accident and they only paid for schooling to 14 for boys and 12  for girls so she was sent into  service in London. 

Beside her is my grandfather who worked for the great western railways in the maintenance yard as a tool maker. He had tickets from malnutrition as a boy so had a humped back but worked hard his whole life.

Right at the very back behind my grandfather is a fresh faced young man who is my Dad. 

He was called Richard Marsh. He left school at 14 to start work in stones foundry in Charlton but at 17 went to do his national service. 

After that he went to Ruskin college as a mature student, worked for a union for a few years and then became the MP for Greenwich and went on to become a cabinet minister and then the chairman of British Rail. 

Pretty good story of social mobility in action thanks to the Labour Party and the union movement. From a blacklisted labourer to head of the railways in 3 generations of marshes lol

Keep up the good work with the blog it’s brilliant 

 

Chris Marsh

Lord Richard Marsh

Richard Marsh was evacuated to Rodbourne from London during the 2nd World War, lived with his Grandmother in Redcliffe Street and went to Jennings Street School. He became Minister of Energy & Minister of Transport in Harold Wilson’s 1st  Labour Government from 1966 to 1970. He received a Knighthood and later a life peerage as Baron Marsh of Mannington but is addressed as Lord Marsh.  He is now a Cross Bench Peer in the House of Lords. A Cross Bench Peer is one that is not aligned to any particular political party. Richard says he was proud to have lived in Rodbourne and has happy memories of his time there. His fellow peers were puzzled by his choice of title as Mannington is now a trading estate next to a traffic island. When Richard told them that when he lived in Rodbourne this was only fields on the edge of Mannington Rec (Recreation Ground) where he had happy memories of playing with his Rodbournite friends, thus the choice of his title. We are proud to have had  him as an honorary member of the Rodbourne Community History Group.

 

Lord Marsh sadly past away in  2011 aged 83.