Folk band helps nervy Joel pop the question
Joel Clegg and Amy Stoker (centre) with members of the band Stornaway at the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
Romantic Joel Clegg decided to pop the question to Amy Stoker when her favourite folk band played the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge.
But he went one step further by enlisting the help of members of the band Stornoway to help him overcome his nerves.
Joel said: “I’d tweeted the band but had no luck so I called ents manager Mal Campbell at the Trades and asked if he could help me out. 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 offered their congratulations.
“It was unbelievable and a total shock,” said Amy, wedding co-ordinator at the Casa Hotel in Brighouse.
“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.
Brian said: “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.
“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. They are a lovely couple.”
It was the first time the Trades has ever had a successful marriage proposal during a concert.
Mal said: “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.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- Todmorden High School students get their A-level, AS and equivalent BTec results
- Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher was a “very nice lady” who paved the way for women, says councillor
- Cruel sting as lack of dock leaves leads to world championships being cancelled
- Meeting about personal privacy
- Help tidy up Old Town on Saturday and remember those who have died from asbestosis
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North
