Pinetown couple share their love journey
Teddy and Hazel Jesshop tied the knot at All Saints Church in Bellair on August 15, 1974.
THE question of whether he was getting married did not pressure or bother Pinetown resident Teddy Jesshop, who recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his soul mate, Hazel, when she proposed to him more than 50 years ago.
“When I first saw her, I just knew she was the one I was waiting for,” he said.
The couple met at the Queensburgh Air Rifle Club.
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“I was accompanying my younger brother and older sister who were part of the club while Teddy was a coach at the club. I was 15 at that time,” said Hazel.
The couple dated for four years before tying the knot at All Saints Church in Bellair on August 15, 1974.
Born in Hillary, Teddy said it was always his dream to marry an English girl. Hazel was born in England, and she and her family also stayed in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia) for a few years before moving to South Africa in 1963.
“I am the one who asked Teddy to marry me. It was on February 29 – in those days, there was a myth that if you ask someone to marry you on Leap Day and they refused, they would have to buy you a present.
“When I asked, Teddy did not hesitate and said, ‘I will take you up on your offer.’
“Here we are 50 years later; it does feel a bit weird,” said Hazel with a smile.
Teddy said that the decision to make Hazel his wife was an easy one as she was and still is everything he wanted in a wife.
On the other hand, Hazel said she was attracted to Teddy’s blue eyes. “They always give him away; you can always see when he is guilty of something with his funny smile,” said Hazel.
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The couple said they have spent most of their lives in the Hillary and Bellair areas, and they have recently moved to Pinetown.
In the Bellair area, Hazel, who is fond of cats, was known as the cat lady. She said that each day she stood at the gate, blew a whistle and about 30 cats would come for a meal.
The couple have four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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