A splendid formal banquet, small orchestra playing quietly, everyone in evening dress and I in dress uniform and my girlfriend very beautiful in her full ball gown.
Towards the end of dinner, I asked if anyone had a pen and wrote on my menu "Will you marry me?" and slid it across the table. It came back saying "Yes". As I was on a posting some 250 miles away and this was only our eighth meeting the speed of the proposal took all our parents by surprise.
On my next weekend leave we chose the engagement ring and with the help and advice of the jeweller we selected an impressive emerald to replace the original amethyst in a marquise setting of 24 diamonds. I slid it onto my future wife’s finger during a midnight carol service on 24th. December 1958 at which our friend was officiating vicar. We were married the following March with full military regalia and Guard of Honour. Five months from start to finish!
The pen I mounted on velvet in a frame I made as a romantic memento of a memorable evening 45 years ago.
Last January, the ring was given to our son as his engagement ring for his fancee and has now married.Who knows, it could continue to be passed on to their future generations with an ever increasing fairy tale to tell.
Peter Slaney,
Ivybridge, UK
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