For Ian Oakley and Jayne Townley, Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture is leaving a life-changing legacy!
The pair hadn’t met until they signed up as volunteer City Hosts to welcome visitors to the city and assist audiences at events.
But, just over one year on, they are set to get married and have their wedding blessed at the Assembly Festival Garden – the place they met for the first time.
“We met at a show called Circolombia at the Garden,” said Ian. “We both have disabilities and I remember Jayne had asked a question on the City Hosts Facebook page about where we might park for the event.
“I suggested somewhere and asked if Jayne would like to meet up. The rest is history!”
Now, having completed more than 270 volunteer shifts between them, receiving nominations for City Host of the month, and receiving gold pin badges, they will become husband and wife on August 25 just days before the Assembly Festival Garden closes.
They will officially marry at Coventry Register Office, which will be followed by a buffet for wedding guests at Metropolis Restaurant before a blessing in the Queen of Flanders ‘spiegeltent’ by Spiritualist Senior Principal Minister of the Corinthians Church, Rev Christine Thomas.
Jayne, who grew up in Coventry and celebrated her 12th birthday on the day Coventry City lifted the FA Cup in 1987, signed up to be a City Host to make new friends locally and support the year of Culture. She was also featured on the City Host recruitment campaign.
Ian, who was from Kenilworth originally, moved to Coventry in 1985. He decided to sign up as a host after becoming involved in community activities during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The couple grew closer after covering a range of shifts together before Jayne dropped in on Ian at his home after volunteering at the Observations On Being installation nearby.
“I decided to show Jayne my grandad’s 100-year-old fob watch as a conversation ice-breaker,” said Ian. “Unbelievably, it started working. I thought to myself, my grandad was looking down and trying to tell me something.”
Ian had a short illness that saw him in University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire but went for some rest and recuperation at Jayne’s caravan in Northamptonshire. While they were there, Ian bought Jayne a mobility scooter and it meant they could both cover their City of Culture shifts on wheels together.
On the night that Ed Sheeran played a gig at the HMV Empire, Jayne and Ian were on City Host duty and Ian suggested that he should ‘get Jayne a ring.’
Ian said: “I said the scooter was Jayne’s engagement present and that was it, we were getting married.”
Jayne added: “I bought him an ice-cream so that seemed like a pretty fair trade off!
“It was amazing really. I signed up to be a City Host to make friends in Coventry but I never expected this to happen.
“We can’t wait for the wedding now and we are so grateful for all the support that we’ve had from so many people. It’s going to be a real celebration not just of our marriage but Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture and the Assembly Festival Garden being here.”
Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “City Hosts played a major role in the success of City of Culture, from welcoming visitors to providing information on artworks and events.
“From the beginning, we always said that the programme would enable Hosts to widen their social circle and make new friends, but little did we know it would help some find love.
“We are delighted to be able to provide the Queen of Flanders spiegeltent for Jayne and Ian’s blessing and wish them all the best for their future together.”