BRITISH WIFE OF SULTAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23037, 14 May 1938, Page 11 (Supplement)

BRITISH WIFE OF SULTAN

ONE of the most romantic marriages of the East and West has been ended by the divorce mider Mahommedan law, of the multi-millionaire Sultan of Johore and his Scottish-born wife, states the News of the World. ' They «cre married in October, 1930, Woking Mosque according to the xites of the Moslem faith, the Sultana being the former Mrs. Helen Wilson, v idow of a Glasgow doctor. Besides tlio ceremony at Woking jthey were married at Prince's How (Registry Office, London. Still Valid in England

Thus, in spito of the divorce which Js stated to have taken place in Johore ,—by the Sultan repeating to his wife in the presence of witnesses the Malaytui word "Talak" ("I divorce") —the marringo is still valid under English lawRuler of a rich territory of about 7600 square miles, the Sultan is a

iitriking figure, nearly 6ft. 6in. tall, and with a leonine head crowned with luxurious hair, now tyrning white. Ho , gave £500,000 toward the cost of the Singapore base. . One of three sisters, the Sultana was born at Cabuslang, near Glasgow, where her father carried on business fis a toolmaker. Jewels Heaped Upon Her She married Dr. William Wilson, whose father had for many years acted as State physician to the father of the present Sultan. Later, Dr. Wilson succeeded his father, and it was at this period that the Sultan fifst met his future wife. After sereral years' residence in Singapore, Dr. and Mrs. Wilson returned to Scotland, but later paid a second'visit to the East. Shortly after this visit, Dr. Wilson died, leaving Mrs. Wilson with a 14-year-oid daughter, Eleanor, now an actress. Some time afterwards Mrs. Wilson and the Sultan met while holidaying on the French Riviera, and their romance followed.

Marriage Ended According To Moslem

Almost immediately after the marriage the couple returned to the East, where the Sultan constructed a magnificent palace for his bride. Priceless jewels and family heirlooms were heaped upon her. One honour was unique. On the official postal stamps of the State of Johore there appeared the heads of the Sultan and Sultana. It was the first timu that the head of any white woman had appeared on any postage stamp issued in the territory of an Eastern prince. Last year the Sultan and his wife paid a State visit to Britain for the Coronation, and were striking figures in the procession. It is understood that the Sultana, under the name of Lady Ibrahim, has now arrived home in Britain, and is

staying with friends. She is stated to have refused the lavish allowance offered her by the Sultan, and will in future content herself with a comparatively small annual sum.

Of the scores of priceless jewels given to her by the Sultan, she has retained only a few of the smaller ones, tho others having been returned to the treasury of Johore. She is expected to visit her native Scotland at an early date. One of her sisters is Miss Agnes Bartholomew, the famous Scottish elocutionist, and wife of Dr. Harry Lumsden, a well-known Glasgow professional man. ' Actress Daughter

Another relative in Glasgow is Miss Catherine Robertson, of Whitecraigs, who is a niece of Lady Ibrahim by hor first marriage. Miss Eleanor Wilson, Lady Ibrahim's daughter, is at present appearing with the Wyndham Repertory Company at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh. Approached on the report of her mother's parting from the Sultan, she declined to make any comment. "I have heard nothing about it," she stated.