Endless Love

Question: why did legendary singer Lionel Ritchie stop performing at his concert in Hove, A) because he needed to go the gentlemen’s; B) to congratulate a couple who had just got engaged; or C) to help save the life of a man in the front row who had suffered a heart attack?  Answer: B to congratulate John Whelan and Alex Smallman after the 35 year old popped the question to his girlfriend in the middle of his performance.  The big moment came when the band started playing the star’s hit song “Stuck On You”.  On hearing his girlfriend’s favourite song, Mr Whelan suggested to Ms Smallman: “let’s go down to the front and have a boogie.”  Little did Ms Smallman know, but she was about to be proposed to.  Ms Smallman picks up the story: “I had no idea at all. All our friends were in on it, but I had absolutely no clue.  Lionel was singing, but I think everyone was making such a big deal about us and it was gathering momentum”.  So much so in fact that the singer himself realised what had happened.  “He caught a glimpse.  He was dragging his guys across the stage and he said ‘come on, say yes, get that ring on her finger'”, added Ms Smallman.  At the end of the song, Ritchie then spoke to the couple: “He said congratulations and then he said to John ‘let me tell you she’s an absolute keeper’.”  Needless to say the happy couple celebrated “All Night Long”.