TAKE That star and X Factor judge Gary Barlow has stunned a St Albans charity worker after asking her partner to take the stage at a recent concert to propose to her.
TAKE That star and X Factor judge Gary Barlow has stunned a St Albans charity worker after asking her partner to take the stage at a recent concert to propose to her.
And in return for successfully playing Cupid the singer will be invited as guest of honour at the couple’s wedding.
The famous performer shocked fan Caroline Davy, 26, when he turned matchmaker just three songs into his concert at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, last Wednesday.
Caroline, press officer at the Alzheimer’s Society, has been dating university sweetheart Paul Cody, also 26 and a charity worker from St Albans, for seven years.
Unbeknown to Caroline her beau had asked his colleagues at charity Sue Ryder to help get in touch with Gary’s management, to ask him to play a key role in providing “the most romantic night” of her life.
Kind-hearted Gary was happy to play matchmaker.
On the big night, not only did Paul arrange for flowers to be delivered to Caroline at work, he organised for her to leave the Alzheimer’s Society office early and took her out for a meal in London.
Over dinner he surprised her with the news that he had bought tickets to see Gary in concert – the eighth time for devout fan Caroline.
The couple were enjoying the event from the front row when Gary suddenly asked whether a man by the name of Paul Cody could join him on stage to sing a song.
Paul leapt on stage and told the singer: “I’m a bit nervous.”
Gary asked: “Why are you really up here?”
Paul replied: “I want to ask my girlfriend a question.”
The Take That singer then helped a by-then very shaky Caroline join them.
She recalled: “I clambered up and then Paul popped the question. I was stunned and just stared at him, and then after I said ‘yes’ the crowd went crazy.”
The night was made extra special when Gary asked the newly engaged couple to stay on stage while he serenaded them with A Million Love Songs.
Caroline and Paul danced as the audience cheered and applauded them.
She said: “I remember thinking, this is a real moment; it was amazing. Then Gary hugged me and shook Paul’s hand.”
People rushed over to congratulate them.
Romantic Paul had also enlisted the help of Caroline’s mum, who works in a jewellery shop in York, to create the design of the engagement ring.
Caroline said her mum, also a “big Gary Barlow fan”, screamed down the phone with joy after hearing how Paul had proposed, as she had not known how he was going to pop the question.
The couple are now planning their wedding for next year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here