Vera Homer, lives in Huntingdon and has written two books about Huntingdon, 'Memories from Huntingdon' and 'An Educational Palace'.

'Memories from Huntingdon' is about the history of Huntingdon and 'An Educational Palace, contains some of the earlier history of St. Peter’s School in Huntingdon. The material has been provided by the residents of Huntingdon, former staff and pupils of the school, the Records Office and the Hunts Post archives.

Huntingdon is an important bridge-head where the A1, the Great North Road, crosses the River Great Ouse near to Hinchingbrooke House once home to both the Cromwell's and then the Montagu's, The Earls of Sandwich, where in 1660, Samuel Pepys was secretary to Edward Montagu, so Huntingdon was no stranger to politics when John Major became the youngest Prime Minister of the 20th Century.

Excerts from the books

An Educational Palace

On Friday May 22nd 1908 at 11.30 a.m., all the children of the Council School marched to the Grammar School field, where they joined with pupils from the National and Grammar schools. There, they all listened to a brief address given by the Right Honourable Earl of Sandwich. His Lordship spoke of the great progress the nation had made and also of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. The flag was then unfurled and saluted by the children, after which the National Anthem was sung and the children marched back to their schools.

On 1st July 1906, the people of Huntingdon celebrated King Edward VII coming to town. The King was spending a weekend visit at Hinchingbrooke House and worshipped in All Saints' Church on the Sunday. This was a glorious day, with all the townspeople turning out for the historic occasion. King Edward visited the Edward's Home for Boys on Mill Common. This house was built in 1906 and solely supported by the 8th Earl of Sandwich, for the maintenance of 21 poor boys. The visitors' book contained the signature of His Majesty King Edward VII, dated 1st July 1906. In this same year, Doris Gibbins was born across the bridge in Godmanchester.