sentences:  Palmer was an apprentice at his family's famous biscuit factory, Huntley and Palmers Ltd, in Reading, and then worked as sales manager in Belgium and Luxembourg, between 1974 and 1977.From 1977 to 1986 he was the Scottish representative to the European Landowners' Organisation (ELO).He was member of the Executive Council of the Historic Houses Association from 1981 to 1999, and of the council of the Scottish Landowners' Federation from 1986 to 1992.