When heartbroken Ursula Carney broke off her romance with John Orton, friends told her she was “doing the right thing”.
He had been known as the “ James Bond of Manchester”, but moved to Australia, when Ursula had decided to end the relationship.
It wasn’t long before both had regrets and so Ursula determined not to let love slip through her fingers – whatever the geography.
Instead, she was going to get him back, even if that meant going to the ends of the Earth for him.
Aged just 22, she gambled her heart and set off on a 35-day, 16,000-mile journey over land and sea, from Southampton, through Europe, North and South Africa, to Australia – where she surprised John at his home in the remote Queensland bushland.
John, then 26, was “overcome by happiness”, and now, 52 years later, the love Ursula’s friends said would never last is still as strong.
The besotted pair have just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
Recalling that moment in 1970 when Ursula turned up on his doorstep, John, now 78, says: “I had finished my shift in the mines and went back to my digs and she was waiting for me. I was in shock.
“I couldn’t quite believe she was there, in front of me. I was so overcome by happiness – I just never wanted to let her go ... and never have.
“I had never expected I’d ever see her again, but she was the only girl I ever loved. So when she surprised me, I knew we’d be together for ever.”
Ursula, now 74, adds: “I dropped my bags as soon as I saw John and remember feeling his arms around me. I knew he was the one for me and that I couldn’t let him get away.”
The couple first featured in this newspaper on July 7, 1972, after they contacted us to share their epic tale. Few readers then would have expected they would appear again having marked their 50th wedding anniversary.
Both from Manchester, they had met while working at a local car manufacturer. John laughs: “I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight, I was otherwise occupied with other females.”
Ursula said: “I told him no way. Everyone knew his reputation. But he was very handsome – and he persisted.
“When we went on that first date, he was nothing like I had imagined. He was sweet, kind and funny.”
John felt the same. He says: “I realised how attracted I was to her. Very quickly, we fell in love.”
The early days of their romance were troubled however, because of John’s playboy nature. Eventually, Ursula had had enough. John says: “She gave me an ultimatum – either I give up my nights out with the boys, or I give her up. I was having the time of my life, so I told her, ‘no’.”
Suddenly single but having realised he had made a huge mistake, heartbroken John wanted a fresh start.
He became one of the thousands of “£10 Poms”. For £10, Brits could apply for assisted immigration Down Under. He moved to Sydney then to Mount Isa, a Queensland mining city.
He says: “One of the first things I did was to send Ursula a letter. I wanted her to know I was OK.”
A few months later, Ursula began her long voyage. John recalls: “As soon as I saw her standing there making the effort to see me in the middle of nowhere, I knew we were meant to be.” They travelled back to the UK to get married, tying the knot at St Clare’s Catholic Church in Higher Blackley, Manchester, in July 1972.
John says: “Most people didn’t think it would last. But I’d matured, and all I wanted was to grow old with Ursula.”
John and Ursula later moved to Canada and had careers in car manufacturing and HR. They have two children, Sarah, 43, and Mark, 36, and grandchildren Mason, six, Jaimie, two.
As for the secret to a successful marriage, Ursula says: “You’ve got to forgive and forget.” John adds: “We always keep the romance alive.”
