A WOMAN whose heart has always been in Looe is set to say ’I do’ after a romantic beach proposal.

Joan Jackson, 23, has loved Looe ever since her childhood visits to her grandad’s caravan on the West Waylands campsite.

So when her partner Brad Hawes, 35, was planning to ask her to marry him, he knew just the place to do it, said Joan’s mum, Julie.

’We would all visit Looe once, sometimes twice each year from our home in Stoke-on-Trent for our family holiday,’ said Julie.

’We started to come when my husband Michael’s sister had a house on West Looe Hill, and his mum and dad had bought a caravan. After our first visit to Looe we were hooked. I actually discovered I was pregnant with Joan during our first visit to the caravan, and she has been with us every year since.’

Brad had picked up on the fact that Looe was a very special place to Joan, and so he planned that he would pop the question during their first holiday together there as a couple.

’Brad had managed to contact one of Joan’s friends who comes from Looe originally but now lives in Saltash, Tiegan Thorn,’ said Julie.

’They secretly discussed where it would happen and arranged that she could be there to take the photos without Joan knowing that she was there. A very nervous Brad decided on the evening that this was it, and phoned her to say we’re on Looe Beach and can you get here as quick as you can, as I’m going to ask her.

’Tiegan dashed out and got to Looe to take the photos, and to Brad’s relief, Joan said yes!’

While Joan and Brad have now returned home, Julie, Michael, and Joan’s brother Peter are currently staying in Morval and hope to get together with the good friends they have made during their many trips to Cornwall.

’Joan met Tiegan in Looe quite a few years ago during one of our holidays,’ Julie continued.

’She is the granddaughter of one of the boatmen, Jon Friend, who used to do trips from Looe to Polperro on Lady Anna. Because we went on his boat so many times we became friends with him and his family and we still meet up with them when we visit.

’Jon sings in the Polperro Fishermens choir and The Wreckers and we always try to get to see them sing while we are down.’