Arbroath’s number one holidaymaker has packed her suitcase and said a fond farewell to the town — already looking forward to August when she will return for her 66th seaside stay.
For more than three decades, Jessie Loftus has been heading to Angus twice a year after Arbroath and its people stole her heart away from the previous family holiday destination of Peterhead.
Now 84, spinster Jessie was forced to miss her Red Lichtie treat last year after undergoing major heart surgery, but she has just been back to her familiar bed in the Harbour Nights guest house overlooking the town marina, where she is regarded as an adopted granny by the family who run the business.
And Jessie has revealed that the good folk of the town, Arbroath’s famous fish suppers and perfect poached eggs will keep her coming back each June and August.
An only child, for 40 years her family holidayed up north before she came to Arbroath in 1984 with a former caretaker of the Motherwell block of flats where she has lived since they were built more than half a century ago.
Sunita Adam, who owns Harbour Nights with husband, Bill said: “When the gentlemen, Mr Freeman retired and his wife passed away, Jessie looked after him and he asked her why she went to Peterhead because there was nothing to do there.
“I remember the first time I saw her in Arbroath and she was pushing him in his wheelchair at the harbour. She stayed in another guest house to begin with and then she started coming to us for holidays,” added Sunita.
Jessie has become part of the family and also remains friendly with the couple who ran the guest house where she first stayed 33 years ago.
“I just love Arbroath, it has good people and good fish suppers,” said Jessie, who enjoyed a front row seat at the town’s Webster Theatre to see the Adam’s son, Cameron, on stage in a dance show finale to her latest stay.
“I’m not so much into Arbroath smokies, but I have fish and chips at least three times a week — and two poached eggs with a slice of brown toast every morning when I am here,” said Jessie.
