The making of palm crosses was started in Devon and Cornwall as very much a "cottage industry" and by the 1950's this had all but disappeared. The Reverend Talbot, at this time, was with Bishop Huddleston in Tanzania and living in a village called Namakambale. In 1957 he was visited in the village by two English botanists who were able to identify and confirm that the low bushes that had long leaves growing from them were indeed genuine palms.  This prompted Reverend Talbot to teach the locals to harvest the leaves and make the crosses. He also, through his UK contacts, arranged for an English church in London to purchase them. The funds were then used to begin the education of the children of the village. Reverend Talbot, on a visit back to the UK in 1959, contacted Charles Farris, then in Hounslow, London, and asked whether they would become the first distributors of the crosses in the UK. Charles Farris agreed and have remained distibutors for the past 55 years, and will continue to support this charitable fund raising into the future. Since this time the African Palms are sent to UK, Canada and the USA annually producing over £40,000.00 per annum that has been invested in schools, medical facilities, and clean water projects.