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Les Roughton came home on leave he had ten days before he went abroad. He came to our house and I did not realise how hectic the next ten days was going to be. My Mam came over to me and whispered "He's going to ask you to marry him". It was unexpected, as we had only been engaged about a month……then minutes later he asked me. I thought long and hard for about a second and then said, "Yes". Still not realising the problems that we had in front of us, as Les wanted to get married before he went back. So did I, come to think of it. The first thing was getting Dad's permission - he was in Birmingham - well Redditch just outside. I think it was BSA working on munitions. There wasn't any phones available to use, so we sent a telegram asking permission - a slight worry because Dad had never met Les but the reply was OK and he sent me some clothing coupons "Bless him". I borrowed a wedding dress from a friend as I was going to get married in a two piece suit that I had just used all my coupons on. Dad's coupons came in very handy to buy the nice things. I went to Etams and bought new underwear and night-clothes.

I really wanted to get married at Holy Trinity but we were not in their parish. Les had to get a Special Licence because we only had the week. St James would not marry us, again because we were not in their parish. We eventually went to see the Vicar at St Lukes, which had been badly damaged, by a bomb. We had to pass through the rubble to get to the Vestry. The Vicar agreed to marry us and we ended up getting married in the Vestry in front of our guests.

Getting beer to me wasn't that important but Les's brother Ken was home on leave from the Parachute Regiment and he took charge of getting the beer. He borrowed a pony and trap from a Dutch couple who had adopted the youngest brother Colin from Hesslewood Orphanage where the 6 brothers stayed. Ken took Les in the pony and trap and I went with them for the fun of it. They went charging through the streets going from brewery to brewery asking for beer - they did get some. I found it quite frightening and would never do it again.

We got married on a lovely day but very windy, it was the 9 June a year and three days after we first met.

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