TRUE LOVE: Musician proposes live on stage

Vaughan Kennedy, 49, got down on one knee and presented his partner, Fiona Teal, 51, with a diamond ring in the middle of a romantic duet at his ‘Songs of Love’ concert at the Lowther Pavilion on Saturday.

Vaughan, a singer, songwriter and composer, said: “Fiona is everything I have ever wanted. I would have to be stupid not to marry her!

“She is an angel. There’s not a single bad bone in her body. She’s kind, considerate and funny.”

The couple, who live at Forest Gate, met online in 2014 after bonding over a shared love of Barry Manilow. Vaughan moved from Penrith to Blackpool to be near Fiona later that year, and their friendship bloomed into a whirlwind romance.

They were met with cheers and applause from the audience at the Pavilion as Vaughan paused their performance of Shirley Bassey’s ‘You and I’ to propose, as he told the audience: “The only thing more beautiful than a melody like that is this lady here.

“I love her very much. I could not think of one person I would rather be with, live with, sing with, and just be happy with.”

Fiona enthusiastically accepted his proposal, and the couple are now looking forward to living together as husband and wife.

They hope to marry at Rossall School chapel in Fleetwood.

Fiona, who works as a cashier, said: “I never suspected a thing. It was unbelievable. We were going through the song when he broke off and started talking to the audience, and the next thing I knew he jumped off the stool, got down on one knee and proposed.

“I was just amazed. I don’t know how I managed to finish the song.

“Knowing him he’ll want to compose all the music for the wedding and turn it into a musical!”

The proposal comes as a much-needed piece of good news for Fiona, who tragically lost her 23-year-old son Daniel after his drink was spiked at a Blackpool house party in 2009.

She said: “I lost everything. Vaughan suddenly appeared like a knight in shining armour and changed my life forever. From then on I’ve never looked back.”

Vaughan said: “Despite all she’s been through, Fiona has always kept a smile on her face, and now she’s got every reason to smile.”