Phillip and Phyllis were married on the 19th November 1908 in St Peters Fourstones, Newbrough, Northumberland.Philip was 32 and Phyllis 20 at the time.Phyllis lived in Newborough Lodge prior to the wedding.

Both Philip and Phyllis came from famous ship building families, the Holts from Liverpool and the Palmers from Newcastle on Tyne.

The wedding was reported by the local paper -

'A pretty wedding, which attracted a considerable amount of interest, throughout the County of Northumberland, was solemnised yesterday at St. Peter's Church, in the picturesque south Tyne village of
Fourstones.The contracting parties were Mr Phillip During Holt, third son of Mr Richard Holt, of Ullet Road,Sefton Park, Liverpool, and brother of the member of Parliament for the Hexham Division; and Miss Phylis Adela Palmer, eldest daughter of Mr, and Mrs. A. M. Palmer of Newbrough Lodge, Fourstones,and grandaughter of the late Sir Charles Mark Palmer, who for so many years represented Jarrow in Parliament
For this time of the year, excepionally fine weather favoured the happy event. After a deluge of rain overnight, the sun burst early through the ominous clouds that obscured the horizon, and before midday the sky was an expansive streatch of ethereal blue.Throughout the day, in fact, the sun shone, not with much power, it is true, for the atmosphere was distinctly "nippy," but with conspicuous brightness and geniality, and, bathed as it was in this flood of light, the countryside, which hereabouts is noteworthy for nothing so much at this season of the year as its gloriously resepledent autumn tints, the whole scene in its panorama of beauty and brightness, presented as admirable and incomparable setting to the day's happy ceremony.
It is not a large place, Fourstones, and anything in the way of a big display of rejoycing though the customary medium of bunting, was neither attempted nor desired. When Nature provided so luxuriant a scene, anything artificial would have been sadly incongruous, and would have spoiled the picture undoubtedly. An inofensively artistic flag harmlessly obtruded itself upon the landscape here and there but that was all. The villagers were content to show their rejoicing and good wishes by beaming faces and lusty cheering. Than Miss Palmer no bride could have had "good luck" more sincerely and felicitously expressed.The church was crowded, and the service was fully choral, The organist Mr Butland, played Lefebure Wely's Andante as the voluntary and the opening hymn was "Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost" the Psalm was "Blessed are they that fear the Lord," after
which followed the hymns "0 Perfect Love, and "Lead me, Lord, lead me" The bride who was given away
by her father, was attired in a white satin gown, embroidered with pearls her chief ornament consisted of large and handsome pendant formed of diamonds and topaz which belonged to Mr Holt`s mother. She carried a bouquet of Madona lillies,She was attended by six bridesmaids, Miss Evaline Palmer. Miss Watson, Miss Norah Dillon, Miss Holt,Miss Gladys Palmer, and Miss Audrey Palmer, all of whom were attired in Empire satin gowns with white fichus and pale blue sashes. They wore black hats with large feathers, and pearl and peridot brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. The bride's mother wore a grey cloth gown, embroidered with silk and gold.The best man was Mr. Lawrence Holt, younger brother of the bridegroom, and the officiating clergy were the Rev H Suttery, vicar of Warden, the Rev Dr F. W. Westgarth, vicar of Nenthead;and the Rev. T. J. Walker, curate of Newbrough. As the bridal party left the church the organist played Mendelssohns 'Wedding March" After the ceremony a reception was held on the lawn at Newbrough Lodge, and later in the day Mr and Mrs. Holt left for London, enroute for Egypt

The Presents

The Wedding presents, of which a large number were recieved included:-Bridegroom to bride, diamond and topaz pendant; Mr A.M. Palmer, silver mounted dressing case; Mrs A. M. Palmer, gold chain and silver brush tray; Mr. and Mrs Godfrey Palmer, liquer set; Mr. F. C. Palmer picture; Sir George Palmer, cheque; Lady Palmer, diamond tiara; Miss E. Palmer, silver blotter and note-paper box; Miss Audrey Palmer, silver clothes brushes and tray; Miss H. Palmer, ostrich feather fan; Miss Palmer and Miss Huddleston, silver menu holders; Colonel Palmer, Chippendale table; Mr and Mrs C.Potter, antique curio table.'
 

Phyllis was painted by the artist Herbert Draper in 1916. Simon Toll describes it in his book 'Herbert Draper A Life Study'

'The portrait of Major Philip Holt's wife of 1916 is another refined portrait of a lady, painted in the style of Romney. Miss Phyllis Adela Palmer married in 1908 Philip Durning Holt, nephew of George Holt of Birkenhead, a shipping company owner who accumulated a notable collection of modern art, which remains at Sudley House.She also had been painted by William Blake Richmond and was a great beauty. Draper's portrait was painted for Sibbersfield Hall, the Holt's home in Churton in Cheshire, close to the The Duke of Westminster's gothic country estate.Unfortunately the elegant opulence of the Holt's lifestyle, suggested by the portrait, failed to endure and they were forced to sell Sibbersfield after losing a great deal of money during the Depression.

Draper contrived the costume worn by Phyllis in her portrait, but vowed never again to allow himself or his sitters to invent dresses for his portraits, as he felt it was important  to depict his patrons in costumes which he could observe in reality.'

The painting is currently (2013) at Judges Lodgings, Church Street, Lancaster, Lancashire, England, LA1 1YS

In 'William Blake Richmond, An Artists Life 1842 - 1921" Simon Reynolds writes ' A photograph exists of an unexhibited and undated portrait, Mrs Holt no doubt of the Liverpool shipping family, full face and with an embroidered dress (whereabouts unknown).

William Blake Richmond is best known for his controversial decorative plan in mosaics for St Paul's Cathedral executed between 1891 and 1904. He was an outstanding portraitist - Gladstone and Bismark where among subjects, as well numerous beautiful women in Aesthetic society and their children.

In stark contrast the image of 'elegant opulence' shown above, we know that Philip served as a captain in the 1st Liverpool Regiment, in France from 1914 to 1918.

He wrote home many times from The Front. His many letters and sketches from 1916 to 1918 can be found here.

Philip and Phyllis had three children

• Evelyn Mary 14th January 1909 - April 1988. Married Thomas Patrick Charlton in 1944.One child born 1944, John George Charlton.
• George Palmer 1910-1990.George was a trustee of National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside.He was a keen shot (he owned a pair of Purdeys shotguns),  a fisherman and expert linguist. Laterly he lived in Abercelyn on the shores of Lake Bala in North Wales. He loved to roam the surrounding hills with his two Labradors.George died in Abercelyn on the 17th December 1990.
• Philip Campbell 1921-1958. He married Hilary Edwards in 1952.

George Palmer Holt aged 3 in 1913.Artist John Charlton (1849-1917)

John Charlton was one of Britain's preeminent 'battle' painters of the late Victorian period.He was born at Bamburgh, Northumberland and received his first drawing lessons from his father. At the suggestion of Joseph Crawhall he enrolled as a pupil at the goverment School of Art under William Bell Scott.

Charlton settled permanently in London and exhibiting at the Royal Academy until 1904 by which time he had contributed 53 works. Later he concentrated on portrait, figure, battle scenes and landscape painting.

This painting along with that of his mother above, is currently (2013) at Judges Lodgings, Church Street, Lancaster, Lancashire, England, LA1 1YS. The museum also has several pieces of furniture belonging to the Holt family bequested by George.

George bequeathed The Head of a Lady to The Walker Art Gallery.
 
A Liverpool artist, Hunt was the only surviving son of landscape painter Andrew Hunt (1790-1861). 

Philip Holt is also registered as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle at Sibbersfield in 1926

We know from the UK Outwards Passenger Lists that Phillip and Phyllis travelled extensively.

In the example below they travelled to Cape Town in 1926 accompanied by their maid Phyllis Hawkins