THE 34-year gap between a Tadcaster pensioner and his daughter was bridged in an emotional reunion this week.

John Welburn last saw his daughter Julie in 1967 when she was only nine-years-old, but his years of waiting are over as she flew in from Australia to send him "absolutely over the moon".

John immediately recognised 43-year-old Julie Wallace as she walked towards the house, bringing back emotional memories of their last meeting 34 years and two marriages ago.

Julie left the country with her mother, and John, then living in Appleton Roebuck, didn't even know she where she had gone for six months and never got the chance to say goodbye.

"It is so wonderful to have her back," said John, who retired from coach driving 21 years ago due to ill health.

"We have had a lovely three days just being together, going out to the countryside and trying to catch up."

Julie, an accountant for a mining firm in Geraldton, Western Australia, began thinking about the whereabouts of her father when her children, now grown-up, were asked to do family trees at school.

"I put an advert in the local paper near Ripon and we got a response," said Julie, who has been saving for three years for this trip.

"That was seven years ago and we have tried to keep in touch, but letters and phone-calls aren't the same as seeing someone face to face.

"I have been looking forward to this trip since for years and I can't believe it is actually happening. It was very strange indeed seeing him after all this time.

"I am reliving my past."

Julie, whose accent can only be described as Yorkshire Australian, met her 21-year-old stepsister Zoe Shooter for the first time during the trip.

Zoe, John's daughter by his third wife Muriel, introduced her older sister to Josh, one, and Anthony, eight months, as the family was reunited.

Now they have seen each other again they are hopeful of staying in touch and John is hoping to take a trip to the coastal town of Geraldton next year to meet his other two grandchildren, Graham, 26, and Ross, 21.

"Now we are back together I am going to make sure it stays that way," said John.

"A lot has happened over the years and we are doing our best to make up for lost time, but there is so much to cram in."

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PICTURE: TOGETHER: John Welbourne with his daughter, Julie Wallace who were reunited after 34 years Picture: Nigel Holland