Hysterical history hits the mark

​When the speaker turns up in Tudor garb with rope with knots, 6’ long guns and a rapier, you know you are in for a good time.  

​So it was for the latest FoEH talk on Sunday 4th November.

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A Sunday afternoon was a first for us now that the dark evenings are with us.  The weather was fine, which helped and we had a good house for Russell Palmer who came to talk to us about his ancestor Sir Henry Palmer, Comptroller of the Navy, captain of HMS Antelope.

Russell’s talk spanned Henry’s childhood, his local connections, particularly family houses in Tottington by Aylesford, Snodland and latterly Strood, and Bekesbourne. His father was connected with Henry VIII’s court which gave him a good start for his own career.
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His contemporaries were Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins and Sir Peter Buck.  He was in command of the fire ships during the Spanish Armada, and even William Adams got a mention.

A very enjoyable afternoon indeed.

Picture: Russell Palmer with his ancestor Sir Henry Palmer looking over his shoulder