A couple who tied the knot in 1979 and divorced 18 years ago are set to remarry after realising they made a mistake.
Julie Rose, 60, first met Bob O’Sullivan, 66, at her local ice rink in Bristol when she was just 17 and a talented skater, while he was the venue’s catering manager.
Bob, then 23, wooed her with the cheeky chat-up line: ‘Would you think yourself lucky to go out with me?’
Second time lucky? Julie Rose, 60, first met Bob O’Sullivan, 66 in Bristol when she was just 17 and he was 23, and the couple married in November 1979. They divorced in 1999 but fell in love again this year
In October this year, they travelled to Amsterdam, Holland, for a week’s break and rekindled their love
She clearly did, and she went on to say yes when Bob got down on one knee in a Bristol nightclub in early 1979.
Julie, who married Bob that November, said: ‘It was a small, but lovely wedding.
‘Walking down the aisle with a big smile on my face, I never thought we’d divorce.
‘I thought I’d found my happily-ever-after.’
Children soon followed. First was Lee, who died tragically in 2007 aged just 26, then Richard, 34, and Samantha, 31.
The couple had three children together (from left) Richard, Samantha and Lee – but Lee tragically passed away in 2007
The couple bought their first home in Bristol in 1982, where Julie still lives, and they were peacefully happy.
During the 1990s Julie was a delivery driver while Bob was a long-distance coach driver, often going abroad.
Julie said: ‘As a young mum it was hectic but the kids were wonderful and we were so, so happy.’
Sadly, however, the couple gradually drifted apart.
Julie and Bob hadn’t spoke since they divorced, but were brought together to organise the funeral for their son Lee (right). Their daughter Samantha moved to Australia and married there
‘In 1998, we realised things weren’t right, we weren’t a partnership anymore – we were effectively strangers in a marriage,’ she confessed.
‘Our divorce was as amiable as divorce can be.
‘There were no cross words or flung plates, just a realisation that we were no longer a team.’
Despite their differences, the children remained close to both parents.
Julie (pictured) met Bob at an ice rink in Bristol when she was 17 and he was a catering manager for the venue
So while Julie and Bob were rarely in direct contact with each other, they both knew how the other was doing.
Bob had remarried in October 2001 and in 2004 Julie followed suit after meeting a new partner at work.
‘By 2007, divorced for eight years, we’d both moved on,’ said Julie.
But, in January 2007, Julie and Bob were reunited by a family tragedy.
Julie said: ‘My son Lee was 26, he came to see me one day and told me he felt ill.
‘On December 28, 2006, he had flu-like symptoms, but they got worse.’
The Bristol pair’s life was turned upside down when Lee passed away suddenly and unexpectedly
Bedbound and shivering, Julie knew her son’s condition was serious, driving him to Bristol Royal Infirmary on New Year’s Day.
Tragically, the next day, he died from a blood clot in his lungs.
Julie said: ‘The bottom fell out of my world, it was the worst thing that has ever happened to me.’
Putting past differences aside, Bob and Julie planned his funeral together.
‘There were gasps as we did this, people couldn’t believe we were together, as previously we’d not really spoken.
‘We’d been united by our love of Lee and our shared sadness.’
After that, they were far friendlier.
In Amsterdam Bob asked Julie to marry him, presenting her with a single sapphire and diamond and ring, similar to her original engagement ring which was also a sapphire
In 2017, when both Julie and Bob became single, their relationship turned full circle when they went on their first date in around 40 years.
Julie said: ‘Richard, my son, went to see his dad on a Sunday.
‘I came along and, there and then in the living room, we admitted how we felt.
‘We had a big cuddle in the middle of the room and confessed we still loved each other.’
Then, in October this year, they travelled to Amsterdam, Holland, for a week’s break.
In the hotel room, Bob asked Julie to marry him, presenting her with a single sapphire and diamond and ring, similar to her original engagement ring which was also a sapphire.
Even though Julie had an inkling he would propose, she was still delighted.
‘He didn’t get down on one knee – he’d still be down there now,’ she giggled.
‘But in the hotel, he said he loved me and wanted to marry me.
‘Our children were delighted when we told them.’