A retired machine operator from Folkestone has discovered he is related to one of the knights who murdered Thomas Becket.

Brian Aird, 72, concedes he is even proud to be linked to the most infamous murder in Canterbury and one of the most well known murders in English history.

Becket had been Archbishop of Canterbury since 1162 when Henry II apparently ordered four knights to ride to London to rid him of “this turbulent priest” in 1170.

Brian’s nephew Alistair Bucannon began looking at their family’s past two years ago and recently made the link to the knight called variously Richard Briton, Richard le Breton or Richard le Bret.

“My nephew has looked back 1,000 years and found the link on my mother’s side, which is French,” Brian said.

“Richard le Breton had links with Jersey and he found the connection through the surname le Maitre.

“It gives me certain pride to have found this out – it’s not everyday that something like this happens.

“I find it fascinating actually and we have had family over from Australia and they’ve been intrigued by it.”

Brian took his family on a tour of the Cathedral, including a obligatory visit to the sculpture which marks the spot where Becket was slain.

It remains one of the one most visited sites in the Cathedral and is focal point of pilgrimage.

An engraving states that the Becket was murdered on December 29, 1170. In 1982, it was visited jointly by Pope John-Paul II and Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie.

Brian, who has two sons and five grandchildren, has also discovered that his family has connections to men who served with Lord Nelson, to Louis Mountbatten and to Canadian songstress Celine Dion.

Nine years ago his grand-daughter Hayleigh Aird starred as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at the Marlowe Theatre, performing alongside Stephen Gately.