大象传媒

Mrs Jean Hill

In 1945, at the end of the War in Europe, my fianc茅e, whom I鈥檇 hadn鈥檛 seen for many months, was posted to Australia for 2 years. Stanford was on a few days leave and I had a day off, so we decided to get married before he sailed. We needed to get a special licence and arrange with the Vicar which day he could marry us. I returned to the hospital where I was training, to obtain from Matron a week off. At first she said no, as I wasn鈥檛 due leave. Eventually she gave her consent. I took the next train home to Oxford where I frantically obtained a wedding outfit. I needed some navy shoes, so I got up early to queue at the shoe shop to get a pair (only a small allocation each day) only suede were available 鈥� no choice.

Meanwhile my mother made a fruitcake 鈥� borrowing from friends to add to her dried fruit ration. It was a super cake 鈥� made and iced the same day.

We then took a taxi to the photographer 鈥� no photographer outside the church then at short notice.

My husband had bought 1st class tickets thinking we would have a comfortable journey to Malvern. The train was packed with service men as well as civilians and we had to stand all the way.

We arrived at the Hotel looking forward to a cup of tea but we had missed 4 o鈥檆lock tea and had to wait for 7 o鈥檆lock evening meal before we could quench our thirst.

When Stanford returned from leave it was to find his ship had sailed, but he was sent to Ceylon instead to a Naval Rest Camp where he helped in the role as a sort of Royal Navy 鈥淏illy Butlin鈥�.

In the meantime I completed my training and became a State Registered Nurse and a Staff Nurse.

We have now celebrated 60 years together!

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