Train marriage proposal just the ticket for Lucy
When Lucy Rogers caught the 19.57 from Euston earlier this week, she was not expecting a serenade from a 25-strong choir, followed by a proposal of marriage from boyfriend Adam King.
But not long after the Watford-bound train pulled out of the station, a fellow traveller in Lucy’s carriage began singing Lovely Day.
Within seconds, the solo had turned into a full-choir a capella version of the Bill Withers hit, with two-thirds of the other passengers joining in.
90 seconds into the rendition, step forward Adam King, Lucy’s boyfriend of six years. “Lucy Rogers,” he asks, “will you marry me?”
To the relief of Adam, the passengers (most of whom happened to be members of the Adam Street Singers), and, doubtless, the thousands of YouTube viewers who have helped turn film of the proposal into an internet hit, Lucy’s reply was positive.
Get me to the carriage on time
But the apparently precision choreography of the event, which Adam started planning in April, had turned into a logistical nightmare for the 34-year-old tailor as proposal day approached.
A member of the Adam Street Singers, the groom-to-be managed to enlist the participation of his fellow vocalists in the grand scheme. The challenge was to get them all to the same station, platform, train and carriage at the right time.
“I’d already planned it for the following week,” Adam told Channel 4 News. “But because Lucy hadn’t wanted to go to see friends near the target location, I moved everything forward, which caused chaos for the choir. Bless them for it – they all went for it!
“The choir assembled at a pub in Euston station. As soon as they knew the train was in the station, I got the text. I then had to coordinate getting Lucy from the house to Euston on time.
We had to get the choir in position in the right carriage, then get me on, within three minutes. Adam King
“There was a three-minute window as the train arrived at Euston. We had to get the choir in position in the right carriage, then get me on within three minutes – that was the really difficult bit.”
Elation and relief
Adam says that once Lucy and the choir had arrived at the station, he knew everything was in hand.
“When we stepped onto the train and I got her in the second carriage of the 19.57, that was it. I just had to start worrying about whether she would actually say yes!
“And I can’t tell you how happy I am. There was the elation of Lucy saying yes, combined with the sheer relief that everything had gone according to plan.
“Then someone planted a bottle of champagne in my hand and a couple of plastic glasses – not that I would drink on the London overground, of course.”
Adam’s challenge now is to think up something even more spectacular for the couple’s wedding day.
Photo courtesy Adam King