Yes to proposal at passing out parade

For most soldiers, the day of their passing out parade is one of the proudest of their lives.

But it was extra special for Royal Engineer Ben Hickinbottom after he got down on one knee in full military uniform and proposed to girlfriend Kay Taylor.

Laidback Ben, aged 23, kept the plan to himself and surprised his entire family by proposing to Kay at his passing out parade at Bassingbourn barracks, near Cambridge.

It was the second time in three months they had seen each other. Miss Taylor, 25 of Wednesbury, said: "I was completely shellshocked.

"I was not expecting it at all. Ben is so laidback and I never thought he would do something like this.

"The passing out parade was so emotional, we'd all had the hankies out, and when he did this everyone was crying even more. It was so romantic and I love my ring – it's a really nice rock."

Ben, of Darlaston, met Kay on a night out in Walsall three years ago. They hope to marry in spring or summer next year and move to Army accommodation in Portsmouth where Ben is stationed.

He said: "I had the ring sent down to me a month before. I wasn't nervous about asking her to marry me. I was more nervous about the passing out parade because I was confident she'd say Yes. The parade was wicked, just brilliant.

"It was a really good day."

Kay, who works at the Reed recruiting firm in Birmingham, said: "I'm really looking forward to the wedding."

The proposal was seen by Ben's parents Colin, 49, and Michelle, 48, of Coseley. Mrs Hickinbottom, an ex-Express & Star advertising worker, now a Wolverhampton Magistrates Court clerk, said: "They are such a lovely couple and we couldn't be happier for them."