A DORCHESTER couple have just returned from a memorable and historic event in the Far East.

Ron Kirby and his wife Carole, who is a maths teacher at Thomas Hardye School, were personally invited by His Royal Highness The Sultan of Kedah to attend his coronation as King (Agong) of Malaysia.

The Sultan of Kedah has made history by being the first Malaysian ruler to be elected as King for the second time.

The nine Sultans of Malaysia become the monarch in rotation, each serving a term of five years.

Media and public relations consultant Mr Kirby was awarded a knighthood – a Malaysian Datoship – by the Sultan at a palace investiture in Malaysia in 2008 for ‘invaluable services’ to the Sultan, the state of Kedah and Malaysia.

He said: “The installation of the Sultan as Agong will be etched in our memories for ever.

“Not only were we present at the coronation event, attended by several hundred of Malaysia’s leaders and diplomats from around the world, and the banquet in the incredible new palace in Kuala Lumpur, but the King gave my wife and I an hour-long audience the day after his installation as the monarch.”

He added: “The Agong is a caring, humble and gentle ruler and all Malaysians love him and admire the fact that while he has dignity in his royal role he combines that with being a down-to-earth person.”

Also present at the palace audience were the King’s two daughters, Tunku (Princess) Intan and Tunku Soraya. Mr Kirby was their guardian in England during their secondary and university education.

When Mr Kirby was presented with the Datoship, which entitles him to carry the letters DSDK after his name, the Sultan – now King – who was then celebrating his golden Jubilee as state ruler, said he was the first Briton to receive the knighthood from the State of Kedah since the Sultanate was founded in the year 1136.

The DSDK letters joined the letters OBE which Mr Kirby was awarded in 1995 for promoting professional engineering within Great Britain and across Europe when he was a director of The Engineering Council.

Dato’ Syed Unan, chief controller of the royal household in the Sultanate of the State of Kedah, said Ron Kirby has been a ‘loyal friend’ of the Agong.