I knew it was no good saying New York, San Francisco or Paris, so I said I’d go up the Amazon with a guide and find an exotic orchid to present to my wife. Jean has always loved orchids and the South American jungle and I’ve always been adventurous so it seemed just right, and the judges obviously liked it,’ said incurable romantic Maurice, who first wooed his wife 42 years ago with love poems. ‘It’s unbelievable. I won a kitchen unit once, cameras, but nothing like this. I’ve been writing a long while but all I’ve had is plenty of rejections!’

Maurice and Jean embark on their nineteen-day holiday in November. Maurice is particularly looking forward to riding in an aerial car over the jungle.

‘Being above the jungle and seeing everything when they aren’t aware of us will be quite special, and I’m a bit of a photographer so I’ll be taking quite a few photos,’ he said, adding that any successful snaps could be put to good use on his return as future competition entries.

‘I can't tell you how pleased I feel to have been instrumental in Maurice's good fortune,’ said Brita. ‘He spent six years writing an 80,000-word book which netted him just £500. Now a couple of lines has scooped him a fantastic £10,000 holiday.’