the engagement
For anybody who is bored and wants to know a little more about the engagement, then please read below...
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On the morning of 30th July 2016 both Kate and I exchanged looks of nervousness as we sat on stage at the National Eisteddfod, live on S4C, ready to play with Usk Brass Band. Thankfully little did she know that this day would be one of the more memorable in her life. After the band played, we casually walked across the fields, enjoying ourselves with fellow band colleagues waiting for the results. I recall even sampling a rather lovely pint of local ale and some grub from the food stands. There was an air of calmness and a relaxed feel as we waited for the all important results. Only a handful of people knew exactly what was planned for the rest of the day. An analogy of a swan gracefully floating across water, whilst paddling extremely hard below, has never been so fitting! It was time, the results were out, but as usual they were delayed, very delayed. It was crucial that we got away from the contest to set up the venue for the engagement party...
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Web of lies
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I had somehow managed to spin an intricate web of lies, which led to Kate believing that the party in the evening was actually a 'thank you' party for my Mum and Dad, for their years of service to Usk Band. All the members of the band also believed this was the case and they were going to attend that night under the same impression as Kate.
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THE BAND WON! We played awesome on stage, and once again the band won another contest (well done Dad!). This however threw a small spanner hurtling towards the calmly turning clogs of the works. After we won, we had to pose for photos and then all the bandsmen stayed around to enjoy this victorious moment. I couldn't afford to rush Kate away to arouse any suspicions.
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We finally got away running approximately 60 minutes late. We went via Pontypool to collect the food for 'Mum and Dad's party' that Jessica and Jade had been preparing (along with my Dad from 5am that morning). We then made it to the British Legion (party venue) in Usk to set up. I had bought banners saying 'Thank you Lea and Jeff' as well as some pretty cheap and cheerful bunting. Totally unaware of my devious plan, Kate, along with Callum and Liam helped me set the room up. It was ready to go, Mum and Dad were going to love it...
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Surprisingly to Kate, we finished preparing the room earlier than anticipated. This allowed me the time to the suggest to Kate that we could go to Nan's house (also in Usk) and wait there until the party that evening. After a nice cup of tea at Nan's and several Rich Tea biscuits (not Slimming World friendly), it was time for me to execute stage one of this master plan.
I was going to propose on an iron bridge next to Nan's house where I grew up playing as a child. This was an old railway bridge, no longer used by any transport and just for pedestrians. It was a spot that was particularly close to my heart and the views from this bridge are spectacular, especially when you cascade your eyes down the river to the main bridge coming into Usk. The distance between the two bridges was quite substantial but as Baldrick from Black Adder would say, 'I had a cunning plan'.
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The Plan
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I had planned that a small group of close family and friends would stand on the main bridge in Usk and hold up a banner popping the question. This group consisted of some of Kate's family travelling from Bath and even as far as Kent.
Several prior trips to the bridge in the weeks leading up, coupled with a very artistic mother and clever mother-in-law (to be), made this all possible. The last missing piece of the puzzle was how Kate would be able to see the other bridge from this great distance. A few months earlier Nick (Kate's Dad) had mentioned that he had a pair of binoculars that belonged to his late father, Bill. He wanted to pass them on to one of his children, so this would prove the perfect opportunity. Kate would use her Grandad's binoculars to look down the river to see her friends and family on the opposite bridge. The group on the other bridge would lift up the banner once I'd secretly given them a visual clue from behind her. On our bridge, I had my sister Jessica and her partner Jade, hidden with cameras ready to take photos to capture the moment and to top it all off, a brass quartet ready to play when Kate said 'YES'.
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It was time
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After some minor persuasion Kate had agreed to kill some time and go for a walk with me before the party. I had sneakily been texting both teams of people on each bridge to check they were ready and in position. They were. I went upstairs, supposedly to use the bathroom at Nan's house, which allowed me to cast a look up to the iron bridge. It was to my shock and horror that I heard a large group of teenage lads complete with tracksuits, baseball caps and bikes, mucking around on the bridge. My heart sank and for the first time I actually felt out of control and nervous. Just before I aborted the whole plan and waited for the ground to swallow me up from below me I found a saviour. Jess' partner Jade was on hand to ask these lads to vacate the bridge. In a moment of extraordinary luck these boys agreed to move and what's more, they decided to sit on the river bank to watch and cheer once she said 'YES'.
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It all went to plan, I presented the binoculars to Kate on the bridge which was the first time she'd seen them. I explained they were her Grandad's and told her that it was one of few possessions the family still had belonging to him. I then asked her to focus on the bridge and asked her what she could see. Kate replied she could see a large group of people, it was at this point I was waving my hands behind her so Richard (on the other bridge) could give the cue to lift the banner up. At this time I dropped to my feet, reached into the rucksack that I had just got the binoculars out of, grabbed the ring box, opened it, knelt down behind her and then got ready for Kate to turn back around. SHE SAID 'YES', the lads all clapped, Jess and Jade snapped away and the quartet played.
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I was relieved, it went perfectly, I could've had another hundred attempts at this and it couldn't have gone any better. Alas, this was just part one of my plan! The huge surprise was still to come. It was crucial at this time that Kate still believed that the party was for Mum and Dad in the evening. I actually said to Kate, 'nothing can go on social media yet about our engagement, it will ruin Mum and Dad's big night tonight'. I then proceeded to make up some more first class 'bull' about a family barbecue we would have to celebrate it the next day. Somehow she believed me. There wasn't long until the party. Caught up in all the emotion, Kate got ready with a smile on her face (thank God) and asked very few questions.
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A HUGE OPERATION
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This was the most crucial and nerve racking part of the day. The team of people on the bridge then had to hot foot it to the party venue and re-decorate the room that Kate and I had already set up. With just a window of forty-five minutes before guests were due, Pauline (Kate's Mum) led the team to dress the room in the most incredible engagement bunting. The venue, complete with DJ and lovely food was set and looking fantastic. It was important to me that none of the guests attending in the evening knew it was an engagement party. I felt that this would be a lovely surprise for them and they could enjoy the excitement of the evening more. All the musicians invited, thought they were attending a party for Mum and Dad whilst all the rest of the guests though it was a surprise graduation party for Kate (Anyone's head hurting yet? Think what mine was like!).
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When the guests started arriving, they were all handed a hand written letter by myself explaining what they were part of. All that was left, was for Mum, Dad, Kate and myself to turn up. I allowed both my parents to go up the stairs first and shut the double doors that we would walk through just moments later. At that point I grabbed Kate clean off the floor into my arms and marched into the room where all the guests started cheering, complete with party poppers.
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Kate knew nothing! Still to this day I can't believe how such a huge and risky plan came off perfectly. An extreme web of lies and careful preparation was key. It would not have been possible without the few people who were in on it. I will forever be indebted to Callum, Richard, Mum, Dad, Nan, Grandad, Nick, Pauline, Jessica, Jade and Karys. If I've forgot anyone, I am extremely sorry.
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So all that's left to say is, if anyone out there is thinking of proposing... try and top that!
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Jimbo x
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