Jane, my Mother was named Palma because she was born on Palm Sunday and that is how it is pronounced.
I do have that Merlyn Severn book and have just bought another one via Biblio.com for my brother.
Yes I think her part in the Three Cornered Hat was one of her more notable roles - at least according to some fan mail I discovered. She danced many character parts and toured with the company to New York, Paris and Holland (interesting story of evacuation during the war there). Unfortunately I'm no expert on ballet so I'm studying up on this period late in life, I should have done it while Mum was still alive. She was a great fan of the Australian Ballet here and I accompanied her back stage one time and met one of her old buddies Ray Powel.
One of the Covent Garden pictorial magazines (like a year book) has been signed by all members of the company to Palma under each of their photos, thats quite special, unfortunately the ink is fading. There is lots of memorabilia here, photos, studies, characatures, press clippings , programs and so on. It will be kept together and hopefully added to over time. In the chest I also have 2 pairs of ballet shoes adult and child size.
The one thing I would love to find out is whether any filming was done of any of the ballets from that period and if so which film and sound archive institution would have a copy.