Facebook joke led to love for Harbury woman

But what started as an after-the-pub joke by Richard Yardley – “Man for sale - free to a good home” – led to dates, love and wedding bells planned for next August.

Mother-of-three Beckie, of Hereburgh Way, Harbury, said: “I messaged him ‘Do you clean, drive and wash up?’ and he answered ‘Yes’. So I said ‘Yes please’ and if you do that you have to honour it.

“He deleted his ad, then I got a message from Richard saying ‘How abut this for spontaneity – let’s meet for a drink? I thought that shows he’s got a bit of spark.”

Beckie, aged 47, said: “When we met we clicked straight away. It was like my dad had sent him to look after me. And the kids love him.”

Her father John Wilson, of Hatton, died in April, and Beckie had been on a few dates but nothing serious.

Richard, aged 37, also proposed in an unusual way. He sent Beckie to his car for a box – for her to find a ring.

Beckie, a dinner lady at Harbury Primary, said jokingly: “He’s my toy boy – but he looks older than me.”

Richard, of Moreton Morrell, a maintenance contractor and gamekeeper, said: “Beckie does jokingly threaten that she’ll put me back up for sale.

“I did not think the ad would get so much interest. But I looked at Beckie’s Facebook and she seemed like she had a good sense of humour and a nice personality. It’s right – Cupid does move in strange ways.”