Thoughtful Dave named Newham’s most romantic man

Dave and Jennifer Lewis (Image: Archant)

He always makes sure that she has a cuppa and some dinner waiting for her when she gets in late from work and he likes to surprise her with little gifts, just because.

Now he’s won Gallions Reach shopping centre’s Valentine’s Day competition to find the borough’s most romantic person, taking home a haul of goods including an Armani watch, a silver diamond necklace and a giant teddy bear.

“It came as a surprise as I didn’t think it would be anybody else’s idea of romance,” Dave, of Chadwin Road, Plaistow, admitted. “I just think when she comes home she’s going to be tired so I just try to make things a little bit nicer for her.

“You can’t make all the big gestures but I might be walking along the street and see a nice necklace in the jewellers and I think ‘I can afford it and she’ll like it’ so I’ll get it for her.”

The couple - who have two daughters Chloe, 11, and Abigail, 9, - have been together for almost 13 years after meeting in a bingo hall in Pitsea where Jennifer was giving out prizes and Dave was working as a security guard.

Jennifer works a lot of nights for her job as a Tesco delivery driver and their differing work schedules mean that the couple will only be able to celebrate Valentine’s Day together tomorrow evening.

With the kids at their nan’s, keen cook Dave plans to rustle up a candlelit meal, run a bath for when she gets home before snuggling up on the sofa and watching a film

But despite his romantic streak, he wasn’t actually the one to pop the question.

“I could tell she was trying to work herself up to something,” Dave explained. “She started to ask the question but she burst into tears so I finished the question off for her.”

Lucky Jennifer said: “When you’ve been with somebody for so long, it’s not that you don’t expect romance but you don’t expect him to be thinking about you like that - but apparently he does.

“He’s always surprising me.”