大象传媒

Hazel Capewell, 87, originally from Alfreton in Derbyshire, now lives in Beeston in Nottinghamshire. She was planning her wedding when victory in Europe was declared. She met Dennis Capewell, who was a marine, in her home town of Alfreton where he was training. They got married two days after VE Day.

In the morning, 17-year-old Hazel and Dennis went to the local jewellers to get her ring, but they didn鈥檛 have her size. So, they went for a drink in the local pub, and then heard on the radio victory in Europe be announced. Hazel says they felt brilliant, and that everyone was so happy.

They had their wedding photo taken on VE Day and they married two days later. The jewellers had still not sorted out her ring, so she had to borrow her aunt鈥檚 which was too big and fell off during the ceremony at Belper Register Office.

Hazel and Dennis had a few hours together in the morning, but he had to leave to go back to his barracks, as his regiment was planning to go to the Far East. Hazel didn鈥檛 hear from him for months. He didn鈥檛 end up going to the Far East, instead he went to Germany to round up the prisoners there. Hazel says he went to a concentration camp, and all he would describe it as was horrendous.

Dennis and Hazel Capewell were married for almost sixty years before he died.

Image: Hazel and Dennis

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