Wedding of Helen Walker Wylie and James Herbert Swan Duncan June 1936

The wedding of Miss Helen Walker Wylie and Mr James Herbert Swan Duncan took place on Friday 19th June 1936 at the Kowloon Union Church.

Miss Wylie was a newspaper reporter on the SCMP (one of the first). She was the only daughter of Ben and Mima Wylie. Ben Wylie was General Manager of SCMP. He was interned in Stanley during the war. His wife and daughter were evacuated to Australia in 1940 along with most other wives and children.

Mr Duncan known as "Cubby" was working for Jardine Engineering. He was the son of Mr George Duncan MBE of Kowloon Docks. A report on the wedding can be found in the Hong Kong Daily Press for Saturday 20th June 1936. The wedding was officiated by Rev J.D. Maclean with Mrs Frank Short at the organ. Miss Isabel Holland acted as bridesmaid. Miss Peggy Dunccan (niece of the groom) was flower girl. Mr Andrew Duncan (brother of the groom) acted as best man.

A reception was held at the Rose Room of Peninsular Hotel with Mr Alfred Hicks Editor of the Hong kong Telegraph proposing a toast. The honeymoon was at Repulse Bay Hotel. Both Mrs Christina Short wife of Rev. Frank Short were also interned in Stanley Camp. Ben Wylie was a resident of Kowloon and very active in the Kowloon Residents Association.

Phil Cracknell