Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Couple met and married within just two weeks
WHEN Hazel Czarnecki was at work on an ordinary day in Canterbury she never knew she was to meet the man of her dreams – and be married just two weeks later. Hazel was in the bus station’s welcome centre when a man called Leon popped in for a coach ticket so he could travel to Glasgow to visit his mother. He returned a few days later and she asked how his mother was, prompting him to reply that she had a good memory. But Hazel, who has worked at the centre for 36 years, feared Leon was more interested in her friend. The 57-year-old said: “My friend wasn’t interested in going out with Leon so she persuaded me to go out with him. I did think he was a nice looking, genuine, chatty guy, so of course I said yes.” Leon, who is now 64 and works at Ashford International, took her out that night and they enjoyed a dinner and dance. The next day she returned to work to find a huge bouquet of red and yellow flowers waiting for her. Within just two weeks they had gone to Canterbury Register Office and become man and wife. Hazel recalls: “My parents thought it was all too soon of course, to meet and marry someone all in two weeks is a little crazy but when you just click with someone and it feels right you just have to go for it.” That was 1985 but 10 years later they had a church wedding blessing in Chilham where Hazel had grown up. They now live in Churchfield Way in Wye and are as happy as ever. Hazel added: “I think travel is a great way to meet people, everyday you meet so many different people. “I met the love of my life at work and I’m so grateful for that.”