Indian loses race claim in UK

Sheila Williams alleged that she was denied a golf club membership on racial grounds.

An Indian origin woman in Britain has lost a claim that she was racially discriminated against by a prestigious golf club.

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Sheila Williams, wife of a white millionaire, had alleged that the Woodbridge Golf Club in Suffolk, southeastern England, had denied her membership on grounds of her being an Asian.

She had launched legal proceedings against the club two years ago.

But an adjudicator has now ruled that the club was not consciously motivated by racism in denying her membership.

According to a report in the East Anglian Daily Times, Queen's counsel David Westcott said that there were "reasons of substance" for rejecting the application.

Williams, on her part, said she was disappointed at the outcome but "grateful" that the allegations made against her by the club were proved to be unfounded.

The club has declined to comment on the matter, in compliance with the adjudicator's agreement.

The club, founded in 1893, had earlier alleged that Williams was a cheat and made a constant habit of threatening legal action.

It had also declined a compromise offered by Williams, according to which she would pay her own legal bills if she got membership.

Williams, who is in her 40s and is a 22-handicap player, had come to Britain when her family fled Uganda during the Idi Amin regime.

She is a resident of the village of Debach near Woodbridge.