Sir Geoff Palmer, 23 February 2021

Sir Geoff Palmer with Tony Conroy, 2017/18 North Berwick Probus Chairman. © Ian Goodall

Sir Geoff Palmer

We are honoured to have Sir Geoff Palmer as our guest speaker at our next Friend’s meeting. He will take us on a journey with two of his talks: ‘Family Connections’ and ‘Historical Connections, Scotland and the Caribbean’ and weave in his recent Antiques Roadshow appearance.

We asked Geoff to explain in his own words:

“I was born in the Munro District, Jamaica. My mother’s family name is Larmond, my cousin’s family names are, Mowatt and Gladstone Wood. My niece lives in Glasgow, Jamaica. Our family still have links with Earl Balcarres’ slave plantation in Jamaica. Balcarres was Henry Dundas’ Governor of Jamaica in 1794. There is a Balcarres St in Edinburgh and a large statue to Henry Dundas in St Andrew Square.

It is also noteworthy that the flags of Jamaica and Scotland have the same design. Jamaica St, in Glasgow, was built in 1763 and most Jamaicans, who appear in the island’s telephone directory, have Scottish surnames. Scotland was involved in British slavery in the West Indies and became wealthy from this slavery.

In order to raise historical awareness of this history, Edinburgh Council, Scottish Museums and Edinburgh University have asked me to chair committees which will investigate the legacies of slavery and colonialism. As regards my scientific work on cereal grains, I have represented Scotland abroad many times and a recent Antiques Roadshow describes the importance of such visits.”