Hartlepool couple get engaged on Valentine's weekend after man's marriage proposal in the Mail

Romantic John Flouty surprised his partner Clare Singleton by popping the question in the Hartlepool Mail’s readers’ Valentine’s Day messages on Saturday.

And he was thrilled when she read it and said ‘yes’.

John, 39, said: “I was a bit nervous beforehand. I just thought it was a nice gesture and a nice way of doing it.

"We had talked about getting engaged but she wasn’t expecting it on Valentine’s Day so thought it would be a nice surprise for her.

"I was sat with Clare when she read the messages in the paper and said ‘there’s one in her for me’.

“She said yes straightaway. I was over the moon.”

In the message John wrote: "Clare I just want to say that I’ve found my soul mate, my partner in crime, my true love my everything.

"You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me babe, you’ve stolen my heart on the 17th December 2019 the day we met.

“You’re the first and last thing I think about each day and everything in between. I love you more than you will ever know.

"I love you Clare, will you marry me xxxxx”.

Related story: Valentine’s Day joy for Hartlepool couple with the birth of baby girl

Clare, 41, said she was surprised but had no hesitation in accepting.

She said: “I was very shocked. Obviously, I just said yes and burst out crying.

"I know he’s the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

For good measure, John also repeated the proposal in his Valentine’s card to Clare.

The couple, who both live at Owton Manor, met in The Royal pub in Church Street while John was on a night out celebrating a friend’s birthday.

"I started talking to her and we just hit it off,” said John, who works as a chef.

He joked: “She enjoys my cooking. I think that’s why she’s with me.”

They now hope to move in together next month and plan to tie the knot in a small ceremony in the summer of 2023.

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