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Otho Prior-Palmer
Otho Prior-Palmer
1897-1986
1897-1986
Brigadier Sir Otho Leslie Prior-Palmer was born in Dublin on 28 October 1897, the son of Spunner Prior-Palmer, a landowner in County Sligo.
Brigadier Sir Otho Leslie Prior-Palmer was born in Dublin on 28 October 1897, the son of Spunner Prior-Palmer, a landowner in County Sligo.
Educated at Wellington College and then at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he joined the British Army and in 1916 was commissioned into the 9th Lancers.
Educated at Wellington College and then at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he joined the British Army and in 1916 was commissioned into the 9th Lancers.
During the inter-war period, he took an interest in equestrianism while continuing in service with the Lancers. He owned a stud which bred horses for the Warwickshire Hounds. He rode in point-to-points and under rules, finishing second, beaten two lengths, in the 1932 Grand Military Gold Cup on Master Orange.
During the inter-war period, he took an interest in equestrianism while continuing in service with the Lancers. He owned a stud which bred horses for the Warwickshire Hounds. He rode in point-to-points and under rules, finishing second, beaten two lengths, in the 1932 Grand Military Gold Cup on Master Orange.
Having been promoted to the rank of Major in March 1936, he gained his most important victories under National Hunt rules when winning back-to-back renewals of the Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase in 1937 and 1938 on the famous grey O’Dell, the greatest point-to-pointer of the inter-war period.
Having been promoted to the rank of Major in March 1936, he gained his most important victories under National Hunt rules when winning back-to-back renewals of the Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase in 1937 and 1938 on the famous grey O’Dell, the greatest point-to-pointer of the inter-war period.
Owned by Major Harold Rushton, O’Dell got his name from his breeder in Ireland. Major Rushton rode O’Dell in most of his races – he won 40 altogether – but Major Prior-Palmer was in the saddle for both of his Aintree triumphs, when the race was run over the full Grand National distance. It changed to a one-circuit contest in 1950.
Owned by Major Harold Rushton, O’Dell got his name from his breeder in Ireland. Major Rushton rode O’Dell in most of his races – he won 40 altogether – but Major Prior-Palmer was in the saddle for both of his Aintree triumphs, when the race was run over the full Grand National distance. It changed to a one-circuit contest in 1950.
O’Dell was a spritely veteran of 15 and 16 when winning those two Liverpool Foxhunter’ Chases. Remarkably, he came close to winning it for a third time as a 17-year-old in 1939 when, again ridden by Major Prior-Palmer, they finished second to 20/1 outsider Nushirawan, six years O’Dell’s junior.
O’Dell was a spritely veteran of 15 and 16 when winning those two Liverpool Foxhunter’ Chases. Remarkably, he came close to winning it for a third time as a 17-year-old in 1939 when, again ridden by Major Prior-Palmer, they finished second to 20/1 outsider Nushirawan, six years O’Dell’s junior.
During the Second World War, Major Prior-Palmer commanded the 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry, then transferred to command the 30th Armoured Brigade. In 1943 he was put in command of the 7th Armoured Brigade in Italy. His brigade was involved heavy fighting throughout the remainder of the war. In 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
During the Second World War, Major Prior-Palmer commanded the 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry, then transferred to command the 30th Armoured Brigade. In 1943 he was put in command of the 7th Armoured Brigade in Italy. His brigade was involved heavy fighting throughout the remainder of the war. In 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
He stood as the Conservative Party candidate for the constituency of Worthing at the 1945 General Election. In 1946 he was placed on retired pay by the Army with the honorary rank of Brigadier.
He stood as the Conservative Party candidate for the constituency of Worthing at the 1945 General Election. In 1946 he was placed on retired pay by the Army with the honorary rank of Brigadier.
His constituency was safely Conservative and Prior-Palmer had a majority of over 21,000 in the 1951 General Election. Having served as chair of the Conservative Backbenchers’ Army subcommittee for most of the 1950s, he was made vice-chairman of the Defence Committee from 1958. He was knighted in 1959.
His constituency was safely Conservative and Prior-Palmer had a majority of over 21,000 in the 1951 General Election. Having served as chair of the Conservative Backbenchers’ Army subcommittee for most of the 1950s, he was made vice-chairman of the Defence Committee from 1958. He was knighted in 1959.
On 7 November 1963, Prior-Palmer announced that he would not be a candidate at the next general election.
On 7 November 1963, Prior-Palmer announced that he would not be a candidate at the next general election.
Thereafter he lived in retirement, dying at Honiton, in Devon on 29 January 1986, aged 88.
Thereafter he lived in retirement, dying at Honiton, in Devon on 29 January 1986, aged 88.
The grey O'Dell in action in the Liverpool Foxhunters' in March 1937
The grey O'Dell in action in the Liverpool Foxhunters' in March 1937
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