Slavery and Scotland - Did you know?

 - Professor Geoffrey Palmer –
Museum Exhibition Hall at 7pm - 14 September 2009

Geoff Palmer was born in Jamaica and moved to London when he was fifteen. He credits his ability at cricket for getting him a place in grammar school where he contributed to the family finances by doing part time jobs. In 1950s London he experienced early the violence and ordeals of those subject to discrimination and prejudice, leading to a life long commitment to race relations. His distinguished academic career as a world authority in the field of Brewing and Distilling culminated in his recent retiral from Heriot Watt University as Professor Emeritus.

A long time resident of Scotland Geoff’s work on race relations has been widely acknowledged and his writing on the major Scottish involvement in slavery and its consequences has generated interest from politicians, writers and an increasingly aware public.

Andrew Carnegie was a strong believer in racial equality and wrote and spoke out on the subject. He described slavery as ‘an unforgivable sin’.