The study first became serious in the early 1960s although it had its beginnings a dozen or so years earlier when I saw some 16th and 17th century monuments to the Palgraves in a Norfolk church. I then found, in the public library, a book which had been compiled in 1878 about the families concerned. In 1962 I circularised bearers of the surname in the telephone directories enclosing SAEs but there were very few replies, so I began compiling Palgrave references from local historical and archaeological publications. In 1968 I met a distant cousin who invited me to join the Norfolk & Norwich Genealogical Society. I then started searching local archives in the Norfolk Record Office and the Civil Registration indexes in Somerset House. This was supplemented by visiting living Palgraves and recording their family details. In June 1973 we arranged a service at the now redundant Norfolk church, where I had first seen the monuments. This was supported by several Palgraves so we were able to plan a Palgrave gathering in October which led on to the establishment of the Palgrave Society.