"A few years after Edward died, John Cleese, who had known him, told me he was writing a new film – A Fish Called Wanda – in which one member of a dysfunctional gang had a stammer. He asked if I could help him understand how a stammer worked and where it came from; so my character Ken Pile was born."
"Ken Pile was the most sympathetic of the gang, and though bullied by the other gang-members because of his stammer, he rose up against his tormentor and squashed him with a steamroller."

The film was released in 1988.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Fish_Called_Wanda

"One of the fortunate by-products of the film’s success was something that never happened when my father was alive. People began to talk about stammering. Some stammerers thought Ken’s character was merely cruel, others were quite chuffed that a stammerer figured so prominently in such a much-loved film, and had a chance to wreak such dramatic revenge.

"I was contacted by a successful businessman and altogether lovely man who had a stammer. He asked if I would support the establishment of a centre for the particular treatment of stammering in children. My father’s silent suffering came immediately to mind. Here was just the sort of thing that might have changed his life: a therapy whose aim was to spot a stammer from the first moment it manifests itself, which can be as early as three years old. I agreed, and five years after Ken Pile was born, the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children opened in the Finsbury Health Centre in central London. We had one full-time and one part-time therapist. And there was nowhere else quite like it in the country.

"Nearly 18 years on, the centre has 10 full-time therapists, has changed the lives of many hundreds of children for the better, and in 2008 was given a £340,000 vote of confidence by the Government, to extend the expertise of the London Centre across the country. Discussions are well under way to create something similar in the north of England. At the core of their therapy was the involvement of the family. Without this the stammering child would feel isolated, and only with their participation was it possible to fully understand where and how the stammer arose and could be treated. To meet the parents who have come along to the Centre and to see hope where there was once only fear and anxiety is both moving and deeply encouraging.

"There is nothing I am more proud of in my life than the establishment and success of the Michael Palin Centre, though all the really hard work has been done by others."

http://www.stammeringcentre.org/

------------------------------------

My cousin has a pronounced stammer which, despite causing childhood problems and subsequently his “failing” at school, he still become a very successful businessman now enjoying a luxurious and very early retirement. If you have the drive & ambition and even a difficult stammer he proved that just one school qualification, in his case in Woodwork, can be turned into a very successful business in the building trade. However he is an exceptional character and was fortunate to be in the right place & business at the right time. If he'd had more support with his stammer as a child who-knows what he'd have achieved, but more importantly what about those many other children less fortunate or strong-willed who suffer the pain of stammering ?

On behalf of cousin Alan and many others like him I wish to express sincere thanks to the lasting legacy of Edward Moreton Palin, who has given great hope to those who stammer.

I'm a huge fan of British alternative comedy particularly the crazy Goons who started it all, but the Python Flying Circus passed me by largely as they wern't considered suitable TV viewing by my parents ! I loved their later films though, after all "what did the Romans do for us ???".

Recently I was amazed to find my father-in-law was a huge fan too before his premature death; I say "amazed" as his adoring wife was and still is a very "good" Catholic lady with similar TV views to my mum, so her husband took his daughters to see "The Life of Brian" at the cinema in secret, she still doesn't know this !! :-)
Sadly he passed away before I met him or his daughter, but I think we'd have got on well !

When I grew "old enough" I immensely enjoyed Michael's "Ripping Yarns" series, his film acting and travelogues so enjoyed reading his biography; his father in particular was an interesting character who made a great impression on young Michael, who surprisingly believes “my life has been a series of lucky accidents”.

------------

Edward Moreton PALIN was born Walshingham Norfolk in 1900 and studied engineering at Shrewsbury Public School and Cambridge University. He married Mary Rachel LOCKHART in Henley On Thames Oxfordshire in 1930. Mary was daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Lockhart Ovey, DSO, who had been High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1927. As Slowhands suggested the Palins have ancestral roots in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland.
Edward & Mary settled in Sheffield where Edward became the manager of a toilet paper factory. Their first child was Angela b1934 and then Michael b1943. Despite their limited income even after becoming export manager of the steel company Edgar Allen and Co., Edward managed to provide Michael with a private education, first locally at Birkdale Preparatory School, then Shrewsbury and finally Brasenose College Oxford.

I was pleased to read it wasn’t just me who didn’t understand some of the Monty Python work !
Edward Moreton Palin passed away in 1977, Michael was asked if his father liked the show ?.
"No, I don't think he quite got Python. Also, he was developing Parkinson's and the medication was giving him hallucinations. [Fellow Python] Graham Chapman was a medical man and was fascinated by the fact that my father was seeing hamsters running up his trouser leg. In fact, my mother would have to retrieve them and put them in a bag." Graham found it extraordinary that it was so surreal and Pythonic. My mother, bless her, defended Python. I don't know how much she understood it."

Young Edward had hopes of becoming a church organist, but appears – after a bright start – to have felt that his life failed to proceed as he'd wished. Although popular and witty even Edward’s friends describe him as a sometimes intimidating figure; a man whose frequent irritation was exacerbated or even caused by his painful lifelong stammer.

As Michael says, “If you stammer, life is different for you. Simple things that the rest of us take for granted become potential minefields of embarrassment. No wonder my father had a short fuse. For him daily dialogue was an ordeal, frustration a way of life.”
"He was always confronting people, bus conductors, waitresses: he felt everyone was laying traps and should be treated with suspicion. There was always tension when he was around. I found it deeply embarrassing. That's why I hate rows and try to avoid confrontation. I couldn't say I was frightened of my father, but I never felt totally comfortable with him. When you just can't get the words out, it distances you."
"And it placed me – an articulate child – in the awkward position of being able to do something which he, the adult, couldn't. I imagine that could be enervating”.

"Edward was quite dour," recalls a lifelong friend of Michael, while mother Mary was "wonderful. A tiny woman, but so full of love and laughter. I think a lot of Michael’s character comes from that."

of Cleeve Cottage Chalford Hill Gloucestershire died at St Thomas Hospital London SE 1
probate to Agnes Rosa Palin widow

Name:Edward W Palin
Birth Date:abt 1869
Date of Registration:Jan-Feb-Mar 1937
Age at Death:68
Registration District:Lambeth
Inferred County:Greater London
Volume:1d
Page: 187

1911 The Oaks, Oak St, Fakenham
Edward Watson Palin 43 Medical Practitioner Linton, Herefordshire
Agnes Rosa Palin 42
Katharine Mary Palin 2
Florence Emma Bartaby 25
Florence Gertrude Park 25
Laura Williamson 21

1911 Lindley School ? nr Nuneaton
Edward Palin abt 1901 Gt Ryborgh, Norfolk, England Pupil Higham on the Hill, Leicestershire

Name: Edward Moreton Palin
Year of Registration: 1900
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Walsingham
County: Norfolk
Volume: 4b
Page: 262

Year: 1868
Month: Sep
Day: 6
Parents_Surname: PALIN
Child_Forenames: Edward Watson
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Brita
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Linton Vicarage
Occupation: Clerk in holy orders
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference:
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Linton

Tragedy was to strike Brita at an early age, as both her parents perished in the potato famine. Orphaned, with only a label on her dress to identify her, she was sent to America like so many of her peers in one of the infamous 'coffin ships', so called because of the high mortality rate amongst those on board. She was brought up by a rich spinster called Caroline Watson, and was then sent back to Europe to receive an education aged 16.

She traveled for several years, before making a chance encounter with an English academic called Edward Palin in a hotel in Switzerland, who was an Oxford Don at the time at St John's College. Although there was a seventeen-year age gap, they were attracted to one another, but nothing came of things; according to his diary, he wistfully ponders on 'what might have been'. However, they kept in touch and in 1867 they got married in Paris once she'd attained the age of 21.

Their problems were not over, though; Edward was forced to give up his position in college but secured a living as the vicar of Linton, Herefordshire. The couple lived in some degree of comfort, bringing up their seven children with the help of a large domestic staff.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Name: PALIN, HENRY WILLIAM BOURNE
Initials: H W B
Nationality: New Zealand
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 27/09/1916
Service No: 6/319
Additional information: Son of Edward and Brita Palin.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: CATERPILLAR VALLEY (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3329304/Michael-Palin-My-guilt...

1901
Henry Wm Bonone Palin abt 1885 Linton, Herefordshire, England Boarder St Julian, Shropshire

Year: 1884
Month: Nov
Day: 2
Parents_Surname: PALIN
Child_Forenames: Henry William Bourne
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Brita
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Linton Vicarage
Occupation: Clerk in Holy Orders
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Fell in Great War 1914-1918
Notes:
Register_Reference:
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Linton

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/831932

Name: Edward Moreton Palin
Year of Registration: 1900
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Walsingham
County: Norfolk
Volume: 4b
Page: 262

1901
Edward W Palisi abt 1869 Lenton, Herefordshire, England Head Great Ryburgh, Norfolk
Agnes B Palisi abt 1869 Mackley, Staffordshire, England Wife Great Ryburgh, Norfolk
Edward M Palisi abt 1900 Great Ryburgh, Norfolk, England Son Great Ryburgh, Norfolk

Name: Agnes Rosa Buckley
Name: Edward Watson Palin
Year of Registration: 1899
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Newcastle Under Lyme
County: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 85

Year: 1903
Month: Nov
Day: 7
Surname: PALIN
Forenames: Edward
Residence: The Vicarage Linton
Age_at_death: 77
Officiating_Minister: F. K. W. Ingram Rector of Ross & Ruardean
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes: [1]Vicar [2]Husband of Brita Palin
Register_Reference: BM26/1
Page_No: 34
Parish_Chapel: Linton

1901
Edward Palin abt 1826 Finsbury, London, England Head Linton, Herefordshire
Brita Palin abt 1844 N Jersey Burlington, United States Wife Linton, Herefordshire
Edith B Palin abt 1876 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton, Herefordshire
Eleanor S Palin abt 1879 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton, Herefordshire

1891
Edward Palin abt 1826 Finsbury, London, England Head Linton, Herefordshire
Brita Palin abt 1845 United States Wife Linton, Herefordshire
Brita E W Palin abt 1870 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton, Herefordshire
Edward W Palin abt 1869 Linton, Herefordshire, England Son Linton, Herefordshire
Eleanor S Palin abt 1879 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton, Herefordshire
Henry W B Palin abt 1885 Linton, Herefordshire, England Son Linton, Herefordshire

Year: 1882
Month: Feb
Day: 17
Surname: WATSON
Forenames: Caroline
Residence: Linton Vicarage
Age_at_death: 84
Officiating_Minister: Henry Pailin Gurney
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes: [1]Nanny [2]employee of Palin family
Register_Reference: BM26/1
Page_No: 12
Parish_Chapel: Linton

1881
Edward Palinabt 1826 Finbrey, Middlesex, England Head Linton in Newent, Herefordshire
Brita Palin abt 1845 Pennsylvania, United States Wife Linton in Newent, Herefordshire
Brita E. W. Palin abt 1870 Linton, Hereford, England Daughter Linton in Newent, Herefordshire
Edith B. Palin abt 1876 Linton, Hereford, England Daughter Linton in Newent, Herefordshire
Eleanor S. Palin abt 1879 Linton, Hereford, England Daughter Linton in Newent, Herefordshire
Mary J. Palin abt 1874 Linton, Hereford, England Daughter Linton in Newent, Herefordshire
Richard M. Palin abt 1872 Linton, Hereford, England Son Linton in Newent, Herefordshire

1871
Edward Palin abt 1826 London, England Head Linton, Herefordshire
Brita Palin abt 1843 United States Wife Linton, Herefordshire
Edwd Watson Palin abt 1869 Linton, Herefordshire, England Son Linton, Herefordshire
Brita Emily Watson Palin abt 1864 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton, Herefordshire
Caroline Watson abt 1800 United States Boarder Linton, Herefordshire

Year: 1868
Month: Sep
Day: 6
Parents_Surname: PALIN
Child_Forenames: Edward Watson
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Brita
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Linton Vicarage
Occupation: Clerk in holy orders
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference:
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Linton

1867 Paris; Edward PALIN marries Brita GALLAGHER

1851
Edward Palin abt 1826 London, Middlesex, England Oxford St Mary Magdalen, Oxfordshire

1851
Richard Polin abt 1799 Mortlake, Surrey, England Head St Luke Old Street, Middlesex
Sophia Polin abt 1803 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Wife St Luke Old Street, Middlesex

1841
Richd Palin abt 1801 St Luke, Middlesex
Sophia Palin abt 1806 Middlesex, England St Luke, Middlesex
Edward Palin abt 1826 Middlesex, England St Luke, Middlesex
Eleanor Palin abt 1826 Middlesex, England St Luke, Middlesex
Sarah Palin abt 1761 St Luke, Middlesex

EDWARD PALIN
------------------
Event(s):
Birth: 21 NOV 1825
Christening: 11 DEC 1825 Saint Luke Old Street, Finsbury, London, England
-----------------
Parents:
Father: RICHARD PALIN
Mother: SOPHIA
------------------------
Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record.
The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.
-------------------
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
C020693 1804 - 1809 0585440 Film 6903658 Film
C020693 1810 - 1822 0585441 Film NONE
C020693 1822 - 1829 0585442 Film NONE
Sheet: 00

RICHARD PALIN
-------------------------
Marriages:
Spouse: SOPHIA FREEMAN
Marriage: 30 MAR 1821 Saint Leonards, Shoreditch, London, England
----------------------------

Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
M040803 1813 - 1817 0405104 Film 6905089 Film
M040803 1817 - 1822 0405105 Film NONE
M040803 1822 - 1826 0405106 Film NONE
M040803 1826 - 1828 0405107 Film NONE
M040803 1828 - 1830 0405108 Film NONE
M040803 1830 - 1832 0405109 Film NONE
M040803 1832 - 1834 0405109 Film NONE
Sheet: 00

Richard <Palin>
----------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening: 05 MAY 1799 Mortlake, Surrey, England
---------------------
Parents:
Father: Richard Palin
Mother: Sarah
-------------------------------

Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
C013353 1677 - 1812 1041695 Film NONE
Sheet:

Record_ID: 38066
Entry_Number: 165
Year: 1879
Month: Sep
Day: 21
Grooms_Surname: PROBERT
Grooms_Forenames: Charles
Grooms_Age: 30
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Labourer
Grooms_Residence: Bronmash
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Probert
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: John
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: GITTINGS
Brides_Forenames: Sarah
Brides_Age: 26
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Bronmash
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Gittings
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Henry
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He signs She marks
Witness_1: Henry Gittings
Witness_2: Mark of Elizabeth Gittings
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: E.Palin
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: AR91/8
Page_Number: 83
Parish_Chapel: Linton
Soundex_Groom: P616
Soundex_Bride: G352

Dave Probert

Probert's in the Forest