Gary Haydon used the magnificent surroundings of St Paul's Cathedral in London to propose to his partner, Louise Prince.

But the location - at the famous baptismal font - was particularly special.

For 40 years ago, Gary was the first and last baby to be baptised in the font since 1875.

He proposed to Louise, 34, the day before he, Louise and his mum Betty, 70, accompanied his father, Victor Haydon to Buckingham Palace, to receive his MBE.

Mr Haydon, 70, of Hallows Park Road, Cullingworth, was honoured by the Queen for his 40 year work as a toastmaster.

Now Gary and Louise, who live in Nook Lodge, Cullingworth, are planning to return to St Paul's to be married in the special chapel for holders of the MBE.

Gary, an account manager, had always known he was christened at the font, which has been in the cathedral since it was built by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1709.

But cathedral staff had been sceptical because the eight foot diameter marble structure is covered by a huge canopy and they also have no record of the event.

Only when he produced a black and white picture of the baptism, on January 8 1961, did they believe it.

"I'm the only living person to have been baptised in the font. It's incredible. So I planned to surprise Louise and propose to her at the font," he said.

"She wobbled a bit and fell back in sheer amazement.

"She couldn't believe it - it was a bit of a shock," said Gary.

Later, after having visited the MBE chapel near the cathedral crypt, they were told that relatives of holders could marry there.

"We couldn't believe it. What a fantastic thing to be christened in St Paul's, to propose there and get married there as well," said Gary.

Louise, who works for a national charity, said: "When we got to the font it had been cordoned off because the cathedral was closing to tourists, so it was quite intimate.

"It was very much a surprise, but I knew the place was special to Gary."

Gary owes his uniqueness to his dad, who in the 1950s was a police officer with the City of London Police.

As a special thank you for police work he had done for the cathedral, the Dean offered the use of the font, which at that period did not have a cover.

Victor recalls: "There were about 300 people watching, mostly tourists, who were told by the verger that it had never been seen before and might never be again."

The font was sealed with a giant cap in 1965, and it is understood the last person to be baptised there before Gary was in 1875.