ROMANTIC Richard Cattermole proposed to his wife-to-be on her birthday - and will marry her on his.Multi-millionaire Mr Cattermole - one of the richest men in Suffolk - holds the Lord of the Manor title of His Lordship of Furneaux in Whatfield and his fiancée Judy Roper is now his Lady in waiting.

ROMANTIC Richard Cattermole proposed to his wife-to-be on her birthday - and will marry her on his.

Multi-millionaire Mr Cattermole - one of the richest men in Suffolk - holds the Lord of the Manor title of His Lordship of Furneaux in Whatfield and his fiancée Judy Roper is now his Lady in waiting.

The couple, who have both been married before and have grown-up children from previous marriages, have known each other 30 years, becoming friends through the county's social scene.

“We have known each other a long time and gradually became good friends, which has been really nice, and now we know each other really well,” she said.

“Our families and children know each other well, too.

“Richard is a romantic and he proposed to me on my 56th birthday this week and we are going to get married on his 64th birthday.

“It's all to do with the Lennon and McCartney song - 'Will you still need me, will you still feed, when I'm 64' - and all the words and feelings it contains.”

The couple will marry at the Hotel Elizabeth Orwell in Felixstowe - one of Mr Cattermole's company's hotels - on December 27.

Mr Cattermole said: “I am thrilled. She is my Lady in waiting.”

The wedding is expected to be a real family occasion - he has two boys and a girl, and she has three boys and two girls, all aged between 21 and 35 - with close friends and relatives attending the celebration.

Mr Cattermole, who lives in Westerfield, has built up a huge business empire over the past 35 years and his 30 or so companies own 1,300-plus properties, employing more than 1,000 people.

His Elizabeth Hotels company owns prestigious hotels and inns across the country - including many of the region's top establishments such as Hotel Elizabeth, Ipswich, and The Limes in Needham Market.

Do you have a romantic story to tell - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk

FASTFACTS: Richard Cattermole

Mr Cattermole bought his Lord of the Manor title of His Lordship of Furneaux in Whatfield - the old feudal titles associated with property and traditions are sold at auctions.

His great joy is his home Westerfield Manor, built in 1102 and extended in 1412, lovingly restored and furnished in traditional manorial style with suits of armour, fine paintings and furniture.

Mr Cattermole's first job was as an apprentice TV and radio engineer before he spent 12 years in the Merchant Navy.

After leaving the navy in 1971, he started buying and selling property, the beginning of his empire.

He bought his first property in Ipswich at the age of 20 and later sold it for £3,500. The company then went into the investment field with the addition of commercial properties and public houses.

He once said: “I have often been described as an entrepreneur but I am not motivated by money - it is the idea the vision and to see how far it goes. To see an idea come to fruition surpasses all other pleasures.”