Widow of Wealthy Australian Baronet to Wed Heir to British Marquisate

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 24

Widow of Wealthy Australian Baronet to Wed Heir to British Marquisate

BY her engagement to the Earl of Bective, Lady Clarke, widow of the late Sir Rupert Clarke, the Australian baronet, has forged another link in a romantic career. Her prospective husband is heir to the Marquisate of Headfort, so that in the ordinary course of events the former Marrickvitle girl will become a Marchioness. Sir Rupert left her a considerable fortune. The Earl of Bective was educated at Harrow and Oxford. Since the family fortune was insignificant he took up an electrical engineering career, at which he works hard. He has a shop in the mews near Oxford Circus. He has an enthusiastic first-nighter at the theatres. His mother, the Marchioness of Headfort, was formerly Rosie Boote, the Gaiety actress. Lady Clarke was married in Sydney to Sir Rupert Clarke on November 6. 1918. The wedding took place at the Registrar-General’s office and only two or three persons were present. Lady Clarke is the daughter of Mr. James Partridge Tucker, formerly of Marrickville. For some time after their wedding Sir Rupert and Lady Clarke lived at “Kismet,’* Potts Point. Afterwards this was sold, and they resided on Bellevue Hill before going to England. In 1926 Sir Rupert Clarke died. The present baronet, Sir Rupert William Clarke, was born in 1919. Lady Clarke is (he mother of the present nine-year-old baronet. Sir Rupert Clarke left an estate valued, at £376,601, which included

his New South Wales estate, £91,114. To his widow, Elsie Florence Clarke, Sir Rupert bequeathed certain property at Pittwater, and to the son succeeding to the bornonetcy, real estate at Lancefield, Victoria. Sir Rupert stated in his will that, whereas he had provided for his widow by deeds of settlement, he now bequeathed to his son an annuity of such an amount as would, with the net income derived from such settlements, total £5,000 a year. He then left £IOO,OOO to each of his sons. He also directed that £50,000 be invested, the income from the accumulations to go to the son who succeeded to the baronetcy. He further directed his trustees to set aside £IO.OOO for the benefit of his sister-in-law. Hilda Robertson, and her daughter, Mary. The residue of the estate is to be held in trust for Sir Rupert’s widow and children. Sir Rupert Clarke died at Monte Carlo on December 25. aged 61. Confirmation of the engagement of the Earl of Bective to Lady Clarke, widow of the late Sir Rupert Clarke, was contained in a private cable message which Lady Clarke’s father, Mr. James Partridge Tucker, of Avoca Street, Randwick, received. ‘ I shall be sending you some rnal news shortly,” was a hint ot' the developing romance contained in a letter from Lady Clarke to her parents about a month ago.

Mr. Tucker was at a loss to interpret this somewhat vague passage, but from London yesterday arrived i cable message, which read: “Engatrment being announced this week.' 1 “I now see what my daughter mean: when she wrote of ‘some real news" said Mr. Tucker to a Sydney ‘'Sunrepresentative. “I do not know the Earl of Bectite.’ said Mr. Tucker, "beyond what has been announced in the cables. I hare not seen London myself for 45 yearMy daughter did not mention him ia her letters home to us. She has been abroad at least four times, and present she has a flat In London with her three children.” Mr. Tucker, father of Lady Clark', and grandfather of the only Auamlian baronet, is a tall distinguishedlooking man, with a grey moustache and twinkling, good humoured eyes-

He confesses to 67 years, but more thau 10 years younger than For 32 years Mr. Tucker * t , countant at Grace Bros. In the ten years he has been managing New South Wales office of the - Rupert Clarke estate. He f P e , part of the day at the city office, the remainder at the picturetnea - iu Randwick that is controlled . Randwick Elite Theatre and Wj . Trust, being one of the many oactivities of the Sir Rupert Trust. Mr. Tucker also manage' theatre. In 1317, when Miss Elsie Tucker was married to Sir T Clarke, her parents lived at um Avenue, Marrickville. She _ l t? . onlv about 22 years of age. rTOI P childhood. Lady Clarke wa * * " te girl Her tastes tended alwa ward home life. Although . bright, vivacious and accompt- _ She was secretary and comp* • to a ladv at Pott’s Point Rupert Clarke, who was on * „ from Melbourne, first met her. a romantic meeting. The baronet’s wooing was ■ and successful. In the circle l)1?> she moved. Miss Tucker, as was. several times met Sir B P society gatherings. Hr 1,181 j, than one trip from Melbourne to press liis suit with the a - / live girl. who won the everyone she met. a P •-harming personality-