[dp_burke]

The Evening Express of Liverpool, 30 Oct 1950 reported on a court case involving Mr Hopkins.

MR JUSTICE PILCHER in the Divorce Court, London, today with the greatest reluctance refused a decree to a London woman who he said had been shamefully wronged and cruelly tricked by her husband.

Mrs Barbara Henden Hopkins of Bishops Court, East Finchley London asked for divorce on the ground of cruelty and alleged desertion by her husband Mr Richard Donald Buchanan Hopkins now living in Toronto, Canada, and formerly an English Fleet Air Arm Lieutenant. His Lordship found that the cruelty was proved but decided he could not grant a decree because the husband was domiciled in Canada and was not within the jurisdiction of the court.

In his reserved judgment Mr Justice Pilcher said Mr and Mrs Hopkins were married in 1943 when he was 23 and she 20. In 1945 he returned from overseas service and worked at the Admiralty.

Mr Hopkins was clearly a man of domineering demeanour and from 1945 onwards frequently treated his wife with physical violence. The judge was satisfied he was a man who was prepared to slap and punch her and he acquired complete ascendancy over her. By February, 1949, all the spirit had been knocked out of her.

After leaving the Fleet Air Arm Mr Hopkins went into his father's business but in 1948 decided to go abroad. It was arranged he should go alone to Canada in February, 1949, to find out what opportunities were there.

Mrs Hopkins began divorce proceedings after he left for Canada, said the Judge, but at the end of March he returned to England and "bombarded her with affection and remorse for 10 days". She gave in, and they lived together again.

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This newspaper didn't go on to further report that he brought his wife to Canada, then sent her back to collect the children but had already had his mother bring the children to Canada without their mothers knowledge.

it was reported on widely in 1950 and again in 1953 when she finally was granted the divorce. The children however remained in Canada.