It's all about marriage as fan proposes on stage at Birmingham McFly gig
As proposals go, Daniel Tillsley's will take some beating. When he got down on one knee to ask the love of his life for her hand in marriage, he made sure there were a few witnesses – boyband McFly, no less, and 2,500 of their fans.
Stunned Rachel Lawson immediately said yes. The romantic proposal was captured on camera and mobile phones at the O2 Academy in Birmingham and was soon posted on social media site Twitter.
Mr Tillsley said: "At the end of February I contacted the band's tour manager to pitch the idea of me proposing to Rachel.
"He said he would ask the band and the next thing I heard it was on.
"I had to go along to the sound check on Saturday to see where I would be standing."
Salesman Mr Tillsley bought the concert tickets as a gift for his soon-to-be wife to celebrate their nine-month anniversary.
It was the first time they'd been to see the chart-topping band together.
The pair, who both love McFly and live together in Stafford, met at Casa nightclub in the town.
Mr Tillsley continued: "I told Rachel I had wangled us the opportunity to meet the band at the interval.
"We got taken round the back of the stage. I was shaking beforehand.
"Tom started talking and told everyone there was a special part of the show coming up. Then the tour manager opened the door to the stage.
"I got down on one knee and proposed.
"When Rachel said yes, we got hugs from each member of the band."
After the proposal, the couple made their way back into the audience and watched the rest of the gig.
They had well-wishers congratulate them for the rest of the night.
Social worker Miss Lawson said she had no idea her new fiance was going to pop the question at the gig.
The 23-year-old said: "I was so shocked. I had no idea he was going to propose.
"I started to get a bit suspicious when we were standing outside the stage door.
"Getting out onto the stage was really surreal.
"I could not even talk. There were 2,500 people in the crowd.
"I thought it was a prank at first," she added.
A few days before proposing, Mr Tillsley, aged 30, asked permission to marry Miss Lawson from her parents.
Miss Lawson added: "I spoke to my mum after the gig.
"She cried down the phone. She'd had to keep quiet about it all.
"We've had so many lovely messages even from people we don't know on Twitter.
"We'll have to start saving for the wedding now."
After the gig, band member Tom Fletcher joined others to congratulate the couple on Twitter, writing: "Thanks Birmingham, tonight was wicked!!!
"Congrats to the couple who got engaged on stage tonight. May you have a lovely future together."
