IT was the most romantic of gestures at the unlikeliest of settings.
Not Paris, not Rome, not at the top of the Shard. No, Callum Williams decided the perfect place to get down on one knee was at the Foxhall Stadium during Monday’s bank holiday speedway meeting.
As the dust settled from the 12th heat of the afternoon contest between Ipswich Witches and Leicester Lions, Callum’s fiance Charlotte Jewell was brought into the centre of the track.
She was told by announcer Kevin Long that she had won a competition to watch the final few heats from the grassy spot but a far more important reason was about to be revealed.
Weeks ago, Charlotte had told a pal about a dream in which Callum had proposed to her while at the race track. She had never mentioned the dream to her partner of three years – but the friend had.
After hearing about the dream, Callum, who works at Ridgeons building supplies and is a race day track team member at the stadium, began planning the perfect proposal.
Charlotte, 20, said: “There were call-out shouts (stadium announcements) for me to go down to the pit lane.
“I thought something was wrong because I noticed my boyfriend had disappeared off the track. I wondered where he had gone.
“I went down to the pit and Kevin, the stadium announcer, told me I had won a competition, meaning I would be able to watch the rest of the race right up close next to the track.
“I walked out onto the track and stood on the podium, when I turned round and saw Callum walking towards me with a bunch of flowers.
“I didn’t know what was going on, but then he read out on the microphone about how we had been together for three years and how I had always been there for him – then he asked me to marry him! It was very emotional. I was taken aback. I told him I loved him. I said yes – it was the easiest decision I have ever had to make.”
The crowd roared its approval at Charlotte’s positive response to the all important question.
She added: “I actually had a dream all this would happen. It was towards the end of last year. I told one of my friends, Bev Clarke, that Callum would propose to me at Foxhall Stadium. She told him and it all snowballed from there. It was the best thing in the world. My dream came true!”
Callum, 26, added: “I hid the suit in the first aid room and dived off a few heats before so I could get changed and back out again in time. I had my speech on my phone so I could read it all out.
“She was shocked and verging on tears. Our friends and family are really pleased for us. I’m glad it all came together and had a happy ending.”
A thrilling win for the Witches topped off a memorable day for the couple, from Stoke Quay, Ipswich, who are now looking to set a date for their big day.
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