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My Nan and Granddad met during the war, here is their story. My Nan’s name was Violet Farley (but I always called her Marmar), my Granddad was Alec Smith (he wouldn’t let us call him ‘Granddad’ because that was for old people!)

Violet was the only daughter of 5 children. She always liked to look her best, one Saturday night she was getting ready for a dance and had her hair in curlers and was in her dressing gown.

Violet’s brother Bill was due home on leave from the Navy and when she heard the front door slam she flew down stairs to greet him. Stood at the bottom of the stairs by the front door was not Bill but a gorgeous stranger in a Naval uniform. Violet flew back up the stairs and whipped out her curlers and hurriedly got dressed. When she eventually returned down stairs, she was introduced to bill’s mate Alec who was spending his leave with Bill because he didn’t really want to go home, it was to far to travel for a few days.

Alec was serving on a ship called HMS Black Prince.

Violet was in love! And so was Alec! They spent as much of Alec’s leave together as possible. At the end of the few days, Alec proposed and Violet accepted.

Their next meeting wasn’t until months later and they spent the time making plans and were inseparable. They couldn’t set an exact date because Alec didn’t know when he would next be home.

They had to wait a long time until they were in each other’s arms again. VE day came and went and Alec was stuck in Australia at that time. As soon as Alec was back in Kidderminster they were married at St Mary’s Church. So my Nan and Granddad only met 3 times before they were married.

They were inseperable for 50 years and both died within 3 months of each other, just a short while after their Golden wedding Anniversary.

This story was submitted to the People’s war site by Jacci Phillips of the CSV Action Desk at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hereford and Worcester on behalf of herself and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

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