MARLBOROUGH proved to be the perfect setting for the book launch of a book detailing the life of the former Lord Protector of England, Edward Seymour, on Sunday.

Historian Margaret Scard, 64, held the book launch, which was the first complete dedicated biography of the man who ruled the country from 1547-49, with friends and family at the town hall, raising £1,100 to Cancer Research to boot.

Mrs Scard, who lives near Andover in Hampshire, chose the venue as the Seymour's family home was at Wolf Hall, just five miles from the town, and for many years he was warden of Savernake Forest so this was his home territory.

"The book launch was a great success and over 100 people attended which was lovely, it was a really wonderful occasion," said Mrs Scard.

"I got a huge buzz out of researching this, even though it took four years. It is very exciting when you find a document that has not been used, a sense of discovery, I find it all fascinating.

"I wanted to do this as I saw nobody had written a book about his life as a whole, rather than his time as Lord Protector and I am very happy I did."

Edward Seymour was the eldest brother of Queen Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII. It proved to be a stormy tenure. To the people he became the ‘Good Duke’ but to the councillors he ruled with, he was a traitor.

Before the event, Mrs Scard decided that all the profits from the book sales at the launch would go to cancer research.

"I am thrilled that so far we have raised more than £1,100 and the total is still rising," she added.

"I think is needs all the money it can get. I have had relatives and friends who have it so the more we raise the better."