News

Heavy petting at Welsh charity shop 1

Fundraising | 7 Feb 2008

More usually known for helping to eradicate illness among animals, PDSA appears to be operating a sideline of encouraging love sickness among humans.

It has emerged that two volunteers who met at the PDSA charity shop in Neath, South Wales, have become engaged, sealing their betrothment with a ring donated to the shop.

Steven Lloyd, aged 23, and Carmen Freemen, aged 26, say they intend to celebrate their decision in the shop with their fellow volunteers and some champagne.

Lloyd, however, revealed that the course of true love was not entirely smooth, with the demands of his shop role seemingly determined to thwart his initial advances. “I was told that Carmen liked me, but it took me a week to finally ask her out, because every time I was going to ask her a customer came in.”

Initial obstacles overcome, Lloyd became aware before Christmas that Freemen was taken with a white gold ring which had arrived in the shop. “I was told that she had spotted this ring and how much she liked it – so I started saving for it straight away.”

The Neath pair are not the only ones to have benefited from the PDSA’s romantic powers. Following a successful trial last February, the charity is holding a competition to win use of a PDSA shop window for a personal valentine’s message.

Last year, 33-year-old Tamra O’Hara of Greater Manchester proposed to her boyfriend Syd with a large message painted on the window of PDSA’s Sale branch (pictured), while she posed as a mannequin behind the glass.

David Facer, head of trading at PDSA, came up with this poser about this year's competition: “What better way to declare your love than to display it loud and proud on St Valentine’s Day in a PDSA shop window?

“Just imagine your loved one walking past the shop and glancing in to see a special message just for them; it will truly be a day to remember. If you’re planning to pop the question, but are a bit nervous doing it face-to-face, this may be just the solution you are looking for.”

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Directory: The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)