Mrs. Wilson's Ambulance Dilemma

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In the miniseries *Mrs Wilson*, the protagonist, played by Ruth Wilson, discovers that her husband, Alexander Alec Wilson, has another wife upon his death. Wilson's portrayal of her grandmother, Alison, is based on a true story. When Alec dies, Alison goes downstairs and calls a priest, who advises her to call a doctor. This prompts the question: why didn't Mrs Wilson call an ambulance? One possible explanation is that the 999 emergency service, which was introduced in 1937, was not widely known or trusted in 1963 when the story is set. Another reason could be that Mrs Wilson realised her husband was beyond help and that no medical intervention would have made a difference.

Characteristics Values
Mrs Wilson's name Alison
Mrs Wilson's husband's name Alec
Mrs Wilson's husband's other name Alexander
Mrs Wilson's husband's other wives Gladys, Dorothy, and Elizabeth Hill
Mrs Wilson's husband's profession MI6 agent, novelist
Mrs Wilson's profession Actress
Mrs Wilson's husband's cause of death Heart attack
Mrs Wilson's husband's year of death 1963
Mrs Wilson's husband's number of wives 4
Mrs Wilson's number of children 2
Mrs Wilson's relationship with her husband 30 years her senior
Mrs Wilson's husband's number of children 7

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Mrs Wilson called the priest instead of an ambulance because she knew her husband was beyond help

Mrs Wilson, or Alison Wilson, likely called the priest because she knew her husband was beyond help. In the series, she seeks out her husband's other wives, of which there are at least three, and possibly four. This is a deviation from the real story, where she only knew about one other wife and found out about the others after her husband's death.

The 999 emergency service was in operation in 1963, the year of her husband's death, and could be called free of charge from a public telephone box. However, Mrs Wilson had a phone in her house, which was not common at the time. It is possible that she called the priest first due to the power and authority wielded by priests in the Catholic Church, of which her husband was a devout member.

Ultimately, the decision to call the priest instead of an ambulance may have been a result of Mrs Wilson's realisation that her husband was beyond help, as well as the cultural and religious influences of the time.

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Mrs Wilson may have called the priest because of the power and authority priests held in the community

Mrs Wilson, upon discovering her husband's sudden death, called a priest instead of an ambulance. This could be because she knew he was beyond help and that no medical intervention would have made a difference. However, another reason for calling the priest could be the power and authority that priests held in the community.

In the 1960s, it was not uncommon for priests to have a significant amount of influence in certain communities, especially in rural areas. Mrs Wilson, being a devout Catholic, may have turned to the priest for guidance and support during this difficult time. It is possible that the priest provided not only spiritual comfort but also practical advice and assistance with funeral arrangements and other necessary tasks.

Furthermore, as a Catholic, Mrs Wilson may have wanted to ensure her husband received the last rites, a series of rituals and prayers performed by a priest for those who are dying or deceased. This could have been a crucial reason for calling the priest, especially if Mrs Wilson believed that her husband's soul would benefit from these rituals.

Additionally, the priest may have played a role in providing emotional support to Mrs Wilson and her family. During this time of grief, the presence and guidance of a spiritual leader could have been a source of comfort and strength for them.

While we cannot know Mrs Wilson's exact reasons for calling the priest, the power and authority traditionally held by priests in communities, especially Catholic ones, could have been a significant factor in her decision-making process during this challenging time.

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Mrs Wilson's husband, Alec, was an MI6 agent and some of his records are still classified

In 1963, housewife Alison Wilson's life was turned upside down when her husband of 22 years, Alexander "Alec" Wilson, died of a sudden heart attack. As she grieved with their two sons, Gordon and Nigel, she was confronted by another woman, Gladys Wilson, claiming to be Alec's widow. Alison soon discovered that her husband had led a secret double life—he was not only a novelist and an MI6 agent but also a serial polygamist with multiple wives and children.

Alec Wilson was a charismatic and enigmatic man, described as a "legend" by his granddaughter, actress Ruth Wilson, who played her grandmother, Alison, in the BBC drama series "Mrs. Wilson." Alec's life was shrouded in mystery, with many lies told to maintain his juggling act. He was a prolific writer, producing 24 novels and three academic books under his own name and various pseudonyms. He served in World War I, spending time in India and joining MI6, although the details of his work remain classified and tricky to confirm.

Even after his death, Alec's secrets continued to unravel. It was discovered that he had four wives and seven children between them. He had fabricated credentials, lied about his past, and even faked a burglary to hide his misdeeds. Alec's work as a spy may have contributed to the lack of information about his life, as it is possible that intelligence operations expunged all traces of him from public records.

The true extent of Alec Wilson's activities, including his work for MI6, remains unknown, with some records still classified even decades after his death. The Foreign Office has refused to release its files on Alec, citing sensitivity. Alison Wilson was left to pick up the pieces, trying to shield her sons from the truth and reconcile her marriage with her husband's secret life as a foreign intelligence officer.

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Mrs Wilson only knew about one of her husband's other wives and found out about the others after his death

In 1963, Alison Wilson's husband, Alexander "Alec" Wilson, died of a heart attack. Wilson, the actress playing her grandmother in the BBC drama series *Mrs Wilson*, said that her grandmother only knew about one of her husband's other wives and found out about the others after his death.

In the series, Alison discovers she is not the only Mrs Wilson when Gladys Wilson, Alec's first wife, arrives at her door. Alison's investigation continues when she discovers a third wife, Dorothy, through Karim, Alec's handler in India. She also learns that Alec's lies were not merely about his wives; he lied about having an ancestral family home and about Gladys being his sister.

In reality, Ruth Wilson, who plays her grandmother in the series, said that her grandmother only knew about one other wife and found out about two more after her death. However, the series deviates from this, with the fictional Alison seeking out her husband's other wives.

It is speculated that the reason Mrs Wilson called a priest instead of an ambulance when she found Alec dead was because she knew he was beyond help, and at the time, it was common to involve the local priest in family matters.

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Mrs Wilson's husband was a serial bigamist, with at least four wives and seven children

In the 2018 BBC drama series *Mrs Wilson*, the titular character, played by Ruth Wilson, discovers that her husband was a serial bigamist with at least four wives and seven children. In the show, when Mrs Wilson's husband, Alexander "Alec" Wilson, dies of a heart attack, his secrets begin to unravel.

Mrs Alison Wilson was a widow who discovered her husband's mysterious and secret life following his death. In the show, Mrs Wilson is stunned to learn that another woman, Gladys Wilson, arrives at her door, claiming to be Alec's widow. Alison, who met Alec while working at the Secret Intelligence Service headquarters during the war, realises her husband lied about being divorced.

It is later revealed that Alec had at least three other wives: Dorothy, whom he married while stationed in India before the war; Gladys, his first and only legal wife; and Elizabeth, a young nurse he married in the mid-1950s. He had at least seven children between these marriages.

In reality, Ruth Wilson's grandmother, the real-life Alison Wilson, only discovered one of Alec's other wives, Gladys, after his death. She rang Gladys to inform her of Alec's passing, and the two widows came to an arrangement about the funeral. They agreed to pose as distant relatives at the funeral to avoid upsetting Alison's sons and to avoid a public scandal. It was only years later that the full extent of Alec's bigamy was revealed.

Frequently asked questions

Mrs Wilson called a priest instead of an ambulance because she knew her husband was beyond help.

Yes, the 999 service was introduced in 1937 and was accessible from a public telephone box.

It is possible that Mrs Wilson contacted the priest first because of the power and authority they held in the community.

It is likely that Mrs Wilson knew her husband was beyond help and did not believe medical intervention would have made a difference.

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