What is a three-letter word that means to answer in the affirmative? YES!
Thankfully, that’s the answer Welsh lass Delyth Hughes gave when she realised that the Wednesday’s crossword puzzle in the newspaper spelled out a marriage proposal – to her!
London’s The Times newspaper happily helped British lawyer Mathew Dick, 38, propose to Delyth, 39, by populating their famous daily crossword with clues that, when stitched together, created one very unique marriage proposal.
Amongst the clues included was: Pretty Welsh girl widely thought not to be all there.” The answer: Delyth; and, of course the big question, “Will you marry me?”
Matthew told The Times, he showed Delyth the proposal at breakfast and, when she realised what was going on, he says, “[I] reached into my pocket to reveal the ring.”
“She looked so surprised and didn’t say anything for about 30 seconds, before then saying ‘No’, which she thought was hilarious,” he added.
“But she did then say ‘Yes’ and I had to tell her this was the real Times crossword, not something I had printed out myself.”
Delyth, a marketing executive, was, understandably, “dumbfounded” that her beau had gone to such lengths.
“It was also bloody typical, as he’s a smart-arse at the best of times,” said the bride-to-be.
“I’ve heard all the engagement stories but this one trumps them all. It’s so special and such a geeky way of doing it.”
The Times’ crossword editor Richard Rogan said he believed this was the first time the newspaper had included a proposal in a puzzle, which has run for 85 years, and that it was, likely, a one-off.
“We won’t be doing it again,” he said.
