VIDEO: ‘I couldn’t believe it!’ - shock proposal for Bury bride-to-be

Charlie Hughes, of Charlie’s Farm Shop in Bury, popped the question to Sarah Butler after he won the Sussex Farmer of the Year Award last Thursday (January 30).

During his emotional acceptance speech, the 33-year-old said: “Firstly I’d like to dedicate this award to my dad, who sadly passed the baton to me too early, but I hope he’d be proud of where the farm is today.

“Secondly, my girlfriend Sarah has dedicated her life to me, it’s a timely point now to dedicate mine to her, so I do have a question for her. Sarah, will you marry me?”

The crowd erupted into huge applause and Sarah, 33, rushed to the stage where her husband-to-be got down on one knee.

After the awards, a shocked Sarah told the County Times: “I thought he was messing up his speech and then I couldn’t believe it. I can’t believe he had the courage to do it.”

The couple have known each other for most of their lives but careers meant they chose different routes.

Sarah worked in London as an accountant.

She was re-introduced to Charlie and ‘everything fell into place’, she said.

The shop in Bury sells meat and dairy products from the farm including cream, ice cream and milk. The meat counter is managed by dedicated butcher Mike Davis.

Charlie stocks wines and ciders are from Stopham vineyards, artisan breads are from the Hungry Guest, tomatoes are from Nutbourne and eggs from Cowfold.

Southview Farm Dairy is one of the only traditional dairy farms left in West Sussex that processes milk from its own dairy herd.

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