No ocean big enough to keep him from her (From Thisisdorset)

No ocean big enough to keep him from her

11:18am Saturday 3rd February 2007

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WHAT'S a few thousand miles when you're in love?

New Zealander Barry Winslade has travelled half-way around the world to propose to his Bournemouth -based girlfriend Dee Mansfield.

And after booking a luxury suite at a five star London hotel, he ended up popping the big question at the top of St Paul's Cathedral.

"It's the first time I've ever been to England so the whole experience has been mind blowing," Barry, 44, told the Daily Echo.

The couple first met when Dee flew out four years ago to New Zealand's North Island to work at a bank in Tauranga, near the Bay of Plenty.

"Barry was one of my customers at the bank," said Dee, 47, who has two daughters aged 18 and 20 years now living in New Zealand.

The pair have been together for three years, but last October Dee decided to go back to England to work for a year at the Anglo-Swiss Hotel in Bournemouth's town centre.

But that didn't stop Barry from deciding to ring some wedding bells, and he made the long-haul flight to surprise Dee for her birthday with a stay at a luxury London hotel.

And after taking a tour of the capital's sights, he ended up proposing right at the top of one of London's most famous landmarks.

"It was just awesome," said Barry, who is now staying in Bournemouth with Dee for a couple of weeks.

"It was really, really special."

Despite having never even visited the town, Barry has been keeping in touch with local news.

"I log on to the Daily Echo's website and see what's happening here," he said.

Dee added: "He probably knows more about what's going on here than I do!"

The lovebirds now plan to have two wedding services - one in England and one in New Zealand, so all their family and friends can take part.

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