Scots charity boss Les Hoey MBE was stunned when his partner of 38 years asked to marry him.
DreamMaker Foundation chief Les, 58, was so shocked when Mandy Cunningham popped the question in their living room yesterday that he burst out laughing.
Les, who was heartbroken when his son Darren Hoey was found dead in Edinburgh last year, admits he realised life was too short following the tragedy and jumped at the chance to marry Mandy.
He said: “It’s been thirty eight years Mandy and I have been going out and it’s just been one of those things we’ve left.
Mandy, 57, a nurse, had returned home from night shift yesterday morning and decided to take advantage of the date - February 29 - a leap year when it is tradition for women to propose to their partners.
Wishaw based Les, who has helped make thousands of dreams come true for of critically ill children come for over 20 years said: “Mandy went to work last night and came in from the night shift with a What’s On Tv magazine which has the words ‘Marry Me’ on the front cover.
"It was in relation to a shock proposal from Coronation Street.
"Mandy waved the magazine in my face and said ‘Marry Me’ and I burst out laughing.
"I didn’t know what she was on about and then it clicked. We’ve always thought about it with Darren dying because life is too short.
"I said yes and then Mandy went to bed because she’d been working all night.
"I’m really happy and can’t wait to celebrate with friends and family.”
Mandy said: “I knew nothing would happen if I didn’t take the opportunity.
"Les’s first words to me were Are you drunk?
"I was so nervous before it because I couldn’t think how to do it, then I saw the magazine.
"I feel like a teenager. We are planning a winter wedding.”
