I’m marrying my former school PE teacher after we reconnected years after graduation, and my pals still call her ‘Miss’ – telling my parents was the hardest part
A man has fallen in love with his former gym teacher and become engaged, 13 years after she taught him at university.
Scott Davies, 33, and Helen Booth, 41, first met in 2009 when he was a pupil at Barclay School in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and she taught him physical education.
Thirteen years later, in 2022, their paths crossed again. Initially, they had no idea that a romantic relationship would develop between them.
Eventually they fell in love, moved in together and in August 2024, Scott proposed to her on a beach in Ibiza in front of around 200 spectators.
Now, 17 years after their first meeting, they have a house together and will tie the knot next year.
Scott Davies, 33, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, has fallen in love with his former PE teacher Helen Booth, 41, and become engaged to her, 13 years after she taught him at university.
Scott, a primary school teacher, said: ‘It’s a bit of a whirlwind story. I never thought I would marry my ex-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 in our relationship. It’s very special and we make each other very happy.’
The couple, who have an eight-year age gap, were not in a relationship at the time, but reunited after Scott moved back to Stevenage from Birmingham, West Midlands, in 2022.
Scott was a cricket coach at his old school, where Helen still worked at the time, and the two became friends shortly after he left university at the age of 21.
Scott became an elementary school teacher, while Helen went to work at a special education school.
When Scott was 25, he contacted Helen again, hoping she might be able to help him answer some questions about teaching.
After Scott’s relationship ended, he moved back from Birmingham to Stevenage and contacted Helen again to discuss his career.
But even then there was no romantic relationship and everything was ‘strictly professional’.
Scott and his teacher Helen pictured in 2009 at a nightclub before they started a romantic relationship
Eventually they fell in love, moved in together and in August 2024, Scott popped the question on a beach in Ibiza
Scott pictured as a Year 13 pupil at Barclay School in Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Scott said: ‘At that point it was all professional – we were just connecting. I texted her to see how she was and we decided to meet in a bar. We had a few drinks but then we thought, “Is this a date?”‘
The couple had a few more drinks and realized they had romantic potential.
Scott said, “We spent the next four days together after that. Neither of us were actively looking for a partner at the time, but everything fell into place.”
Helen said: ‘It was amazing how well we got on straight away and how naturally it all happened. At first we both thought we were just catching up, but now we know it was our first date.’
Scott claims that Helen was the one teacher all the boys “had a crush on” when they were at school.
Scott said: ‘My friends were very happy when they found out. They knew how nice Helen was as a person.’
Helen said: ‘Scott kept in touch with some of the colleagues he had been taught by during his coaching and they were very happy for both of us.’
Now – 17 years after they first met – they own a house together and are set to tie the knot next year.
The pair – who have an eight-year age gap – were not in a relationship at the time, but reunited after Scott moved back to Stevenage from Birmingham, West Midlands, in 2022
Scott claims that Helen was the one teacher all the boys “had a crush on” when they were in school
The couple eventually had a few more drinks and realized they had romantic potential. Pictured together
Within two years of dating, the couple was engaged. Their relationship has had its fair share of interesting moments, though – especially when friends and acquaintances realized how they originally met
Within two years of dating, the couple were engaged. Their relationship has had its share of interesting moments, however – especially when friends and acquaintances realized how they originally met.
Scott said: ‘It was interesting to see my friends meet her, because they used to take lessons from her too.
‘In the beginning some of them still said “hi miss” – it was very funny – one of them still does!’
It’s not just his friends who have to adjust: several of Helen’s friends are also Scott’s former teachers.
Scott initially didn’t dare tell his parents that Helen had taught him in the past.
He said, “At first I was afraid to tell Mom and Dad, so I let my parents meet her at first without saying anything, but then I just let it go: ‘Oh, by the way, she used to teach me!'”
Meanwhile, Scott was initially hesitant to tell his parents that Helen used to teach him. The couple is pictured together
The couple’s relationship has only gone from strength to strength and they now live together in Shefford, Bedfordshire, and are due to be engaged in April 2024.
“Luckily they all got along and my parents were fine with it. It’s a funny story of course – we had no idea all those years ago that we would end up together.”
The couple’s relationship has only gone from strength to strength and they now live together in Shefford, Bedfordshire, and are due to be engaged in April 2024.
But even now, when they tell their stories, they laugh at the way people react.
Scott said, “She says ‘he used to come back to teach me gym,’ but she leaves out the first bit about when we first ‘knew’ each other.”
Helen said: ‘I’m looking forward to getting married next year, having a baby together and continuing to be so happy together.’