Ian pops question on gondola

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON has seen its fair share of unusual marriage proposals over the years and Ian Richards kept the romantic tradition going when he asked his partner Lisa Porter to marry him while the pair floated on the River Avon in a gondola.

The Stratford couple booked the 100 year-old gondola which once belonged to novelist Marie Corelli who lived in Stratford, and were steered to Holy Trinity Church, where Ian got down on bended knee in the gondola and proposed to Lisa.

They were propelled throughout by Avon Boating’s Nick Birch who dressed in authentic gondolier costume.

“It was a bit rocky and I didn’t want to topple over but I asked Lisa to spend the rest of her life with me and she said “yes” although I think she was a bit stunned,” Ian said.

The couple, who have been together for eight years, celebrated with what Ian described as a “fantastic meal and service” at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre’s Rooftop Restaurant.

They plan to marry as soon as possible.