About the talk
Algernon, Henry and Lucy Percy were three siblings raised at Syon by their father the Wizard Earl, 9th Earl of Northumberland. They could be called the heir, the spare, and the ‘seductress’. Join us to discover the powerful story of the part played by the Percy siblings in the intrigue and betrayal of both the Royalists and Parliamentarians during the English Civil War. Howard Simmons will describe how they changed sides and acted as double agents and explain how they each achieved their political influence at court from the reign of James I/VI right through to the Restoration of Charles II.
About the speaker
Howard Simmons has been one of the professional heritage guides at Syon House for the past 10 years. Outside of this, he has held positions as Director of Cultural Services in a number of London Boroughs, including Hounslow, where he then became Assistant Chief Executive. Howard played a key role in the creation of the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust and the Gunnersbury Museum and Park Development Trust. He is currently an Assistant Commissioner at the Boundary Commission for England and has just completed a term as a Commissioner for Civil Aviation with responsibility for Heathrow. Howard is active in several local history societies as well as The Battlefields Trust.
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