A man fell in love and got engaged to his former physical education teacher, 13 years after she taught him at university.
Scott Davies, 33, and Helen Booth, 41, met in 2009 when he was a sixth-form student at Barclay School in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and she was teaching him PE.
They crossed paths again 13 years later in 2022, initially having no idea there was any romantic potential.
But they ended up falling in love, moving in together and Scott popped the question in August 2024 on a beach in Ibiza with a crowd of 200 people watching.
Now, 17 years after their first meeting, they have a house together and will get married next year.
Scott Davies, 33, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, fell in love and became engaged to his former PE teacher Helen Booth, 41, 13 years after she taught him at college.
Scott, a primary school teacher, said: “It’s a bit of a whirlwind story. I would never have thought I would marry my former teacher, but we are very happy together.”
Helen, who now works as a special educational needs coordinator at a secondary school, added: “I feel very lucky with what we have in our relationship – it’s very special and we make each other very happy.”
The pair, who have an eight-year age gap, were not in a relationship at the time but reunited after Scott returned to Stevenage from Birmingham, West Midlands, in 2022.
Scott had been a cricket coach at his old school (where Helen still worked at the time) and the two developed a friendship just after he left university when he was 21.
Scott became a primary school teacher, while Helen began working at a special needs school.
Scott contacted Helen again when he was 25 because he hoped she could help him answer some questions he had about teaching.
After Scott’s relationship ended, he returned to Stevenage from Birmingham and contacted Helen again to discuss his career.
But even then, there was no romantic connection between them and things were “strictly professional.”
Scott and his teacher Helen photographed in 2009 at a nightclub before beginning a romantic relationship.
They ended up falling in love, moving in together, and Scott popped the question in August 2024 on a beach in Ibiza.
Scott pictured as a student in year 13 of secondary school at Barclay School in Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Scott said: ‘At the time, it was all professional, we were just in touch. I messaged her to see how she was and we decided to meet up for a catch up at a bar. We had a drink but then we were like, “Is this a date?”
The couple ended up having a few more drinks and realized they had romantic potential.
Scott said: “After that, we ended up spending the next four days together. Neither of us had been actively looking for a partner at the time, but things just sort of fell into place.”
Helen said: ‘It was wonderful how well we got on from the start and how natural it was. At first we both thought it was just a ‘catch up’ but now we know it was our first date.’
Scott maintains that Helen was the only teacher that all the boys had “crush” on when they were at school.
Scott said: ‘My friends were thrilled when they found out; they knew what a lovely person Helen was.’
Helen said: ‘Scott had kept in touch with some of my colleagues who had trained him and they were very happy for both of us.’
Now, 17 years after their first meeting, they have a house together and will get married next year.
The pair, who have an eight-year age gap, were not in a relationship at the time but reunited after Scott returned to Stevenage from Birmingham, West Midlands, in 2022.
Scott maintains that Helen was the only teacher that all the boys had “crush” on when they were at school.
The couple ended up having a few more drinks and realized they had romantic potential. Photographed together
Two years into their relationship, the couple got engaged. However, their relationship has had its share of interesting moments, especially when friends and acquaintances found out how they originally met.
Two years into their relationship, the couple got engaged. However, their relationship has had its share of interesting moments, especially when friends and acquaintances found out how they originally met.
Scott said: ‘It’s been interesting when my friends met her as they used to take classes from her too.
“At first some of them still said “hello miss” – it was very funny – one of them still does!”
It’s not just her friends who have had to adjust, as some of Helen’s friends are also Scott’s former teachers.
Meanwhile, Scott was initially reluctant to tell his parents that Helen used to teach him.
He said, ‘At first, I was afraid to tell Mom and Dad, so I let my parents meet her first without mentioning anything, and then, I told them, ‘Oh, by the way, she used to teach me!’
Meanwhile, Scott was initially reluctant to tell his parents that Helen used to teach him. The couple pictured together
The couple’s relationship has only grown stronger and they now even live together in Shefford, Bedfordshire, and got engaged in April 2024.
“Luckily, everyone got along and my parents didn’t have any problems. Obviously, it’s quite a funny story. We never had any idea, all those years ago, that we would end up together.”
The couple’s relationship has only grown stronger and they now even live together in Shefford, Bedfordshire, and got engaged in April 2024.
But even now, when they tell their story, they laugh at how people react.
Scott said: ‘She says “he used to come and teach me PE” but leaves out the first part of when we first “met.”‘
Helen said: ‘I’m looking forward to getting married next year, having a baby together and continuing to be as happy together.’
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