Joel pops the question at Trades Club

Monday, 11 February 2013

Right on cue Joel whipped out a diamond engagement ring asking Amy to marry him, and to his relief she said yes as the crowd cheered their congratulations.

When Joel Clegg was looking to pop the question to Amy Stoker he thought what better way to do it when folk band Stornoway played the Trades Club.

But he went one step further when he enlisted the help of Amy's favourite band to help him overcome his nerves.

"I'd Tweeted the band but had no luck so I called Ents Manger Mal Campbell at The Trades and asked if he could help me out," says Joel. 'I'd left it really late until 5pm on the day, but Mal spoke to the band. He came back and said wait until the fifth song, so I was totally panicking throughout the first few songs in case they forgot.'

But as lead singer Brian Briggs introduced new song You Take Me As I Am, he said: 'This song is about marriage and I believe Joel has something to ask Amy.'

Right on cue Joel whipped out a diamond engagement ring asking Amy to marry him, and to his relief she said yes as the crowd cheered their congratulations.

"It was unbelievable and a total shock,' says Amy. "Of course, I was going to say yes, but thanks to Stornoway, who I love, and the Trades for making it a night to remember for both of us.'

After the gig the newly engaged couple who live in Cleckheaton thanked the band for being such good sports.

"We are were only too happy to help out and in fact this is the second time we've done a marriage proposal; from the stage," recalls Brian. "The other time was at Glastonbury, and it was for friends, so this time we didn't know if it would work out. Thankfully, it did as it would have been a bit awkward for the rest of the gig and they are a lovely couple."

It was the first time The Trades has ever had a successful marriage proposal during a concert.

"No-one has ever made this request in the 30 years we've been going, but Joel was desperate so we were very keen to help. Stornoway are a great bunch of lads so they had no hesitation in saying yes as did Amy, and it was a really magical moment in the club's history."

Luckily Amy is wedding co-ordinator at the Casa Hotel in Brighouse so she can now plan her own big day with her romantic fiancee..