Olympic Torch Relay: Flame bearer adds sixth ring

Published on 19/06/2012 01:38

An engagement ring joined the Olympic rings on the Torch Relay yesterday.

David State got down on one knee in the Cleveland town of Loftus in front of crowds of people early yesterday morning.

His surprised girlfriend Christine Langham said she did not have a clue that Mr State would propose to her as he took his place in the relay. “I didn’t have a clue,” said Ms Langham, 27, who is due to give birth to the couple’s first child in three weeks time. “It was shocking, surprising. I wondered what he was doing.

“He was taking a chance I didn’t give birth there and then, really,” she added.

Mr State, 25, said: “I ran 300m with the Olympic flame, got down on one knee and proposed to my lovely girlfriend and then, about two seconds after, ran another 300m with the Olympic flame. So I left her in a spate of tears.”

The couple have been together for just under two years.

Mr State was nominated mainly for his work in the community. He has been involved in the Scouting movement since he was young, he volunteers for the British Red Cross and is a special constable with Cleveland Police.

He had been planning the stunt since March with the help of relay organisers LOCOG and his employer LloydsTSB.