The moment a primary school teacher was overwhelmed by a shock marriage proposal involving her whole class has been captured in a heartwarming video.
Jessica Clark, from Abercwmboi, headed into work in Aberdare Town Church in Wales Primary School last week for what she believed would just be a regular day. However, what she didn't realise was that her fiance, Alwyn Lewis, had been conspiring with her reception class pupils to pull off the perfect surprise proposal for her.
"My job means a lot to me and so do the children. I couldn't have asked for it to be done any other way, it was perfect," said Jessica, 30, looking back on the surprise.
"We had been together 10 years on that day and I was expecting flowers or something!" she added.
Jessica explained that the headteacher, Clare Werrett, had called her out into the playground to deal with an urgent situation. Panicked, and in a wolf costume for the school's fancy dress day, Jessica, went running outside. But what she found next was definitely not what she was expecting.
The children all wore t-shirts with 'Miss Clark, will you...' printed on them, and as their teacher approached they all jumped up and down, shouting: "Marry Mr Lewis!"
Alwyn, 35, then appeared from behind the children and got down on one knee.
"I'm speechless about it really, that he did it and it was so thoughtful," she said.
Unbeknownst to Jessica, Mrs Werrett and acting deputy head Beth Hallam were also in on the very special surprise, and had helped Alwyn and the children execute every last detail to perfection. Jessica, understandably, was sobbing with happiness. And Alwyn knew there would be no other way to propose to his future wife.
"I know how much the children mean to her and how much her job means to her, so I thought I would combine the two," he said.
Jessica added that having her class of children involved in the proposal was the "cherry on the top" of the couple's special day. And watching the moment back now, she is still brought to tears - as well as laughter.
"It clicked that I was wearing a fancy dress costume!" she laughed. "That just makes it even better, doesn't it? I was dressed as a wolf for animal day in my class! It's just brilliant, I'm ecstatic."
