[A] university graduate proposed to his girlfriend, also a graduate, at the university halls of residence where they first met six years ago.
Tom Foy, (25) popped the question to Becky Butcher, (24) in the room Becky lived in at the University of Cumbria’s Carrock halls, Fusehill Street, Carlisle.
In order to surprise the bride-to-be, Tom arranged in advance with the halls accommodation officers, Jan Carruthers and Kirsty Mills, to get into her old room and decorate it before bringing Becky blindfolded to the scene.
Tom said: “It was Becky’s birthday and I really wanted to surprise her. We came up to Carlisle and stayed overnight as we were booked into a spa the following day. First thing the next morning, I arranged with Jan to get into Becky’s old room to decorate it. I had to blindfold Becky as I knew she’d work out what was going on if she saw where we were going.
“I guided her into the room, which I’d decorated with fairy lights, a light box, music and an iPad playing a montage of our photos. The second she took off her blindfold, she knew what was happening. I said a few words then I got down on one knee”.
Reeling from the surprise, Becky said: “I was so surprised when Tom removed the blindfold and we were stood in my old accommodation but I couldn’t of thought of anywhere more perfect to be proposed to than where we first met.”
When the couple first got together, they were in their first year at the Fusehill Street campus in 2011. Tom was studying for a BA in Sports Development and Coaching and Becky, a BA in Policing, Criminology and Investigation.
Originally from Birmingham and Spennymoor, Durham respectively, the happy couple now reside in Pontefract, Yorkshire. Tom works for Doncaster Rovers Football Club in their Youth Engagement Programme and Becky is a Victim Support Care Officer for Victim Support, West Yorkshire.
Tom contacted Jan Carruthers, the accommodation officer at the university’s halls of residence to arrange access to the room in the months prior to the proposal.
She said, “It was certainly a first, however, I love surprises and was immediately on board with Tom’s request. Together with Kirsty, we made sure the flat was presentable and offered help dressing the room. However, Tom was very organised so we made sure the coast was clear when he arrived with Becky blindfolded.
“We had a card and a bottle of fizz ready for them should Becky say ‘yes’! Of course, a very relieved Tom came back to tell us she had. It was so exciting to play a small part in their special day and it is lovely to see how happy and successful they have both gone on to be since leaving university.”
Tom and Becky have no immediate plans to get wed but Becky has expressed a desire to get married abroad.
