Barclay Palmer

Born in Canada as the son of an Anglican minister, Barclay Palmer moved to England when he was six-years-old after his father was posted to Liverpool. However, Barclay spent months in hospital with a bronchial infection and later suffered a degenerative disease in his leg and ankle which necessitated a lengthy spell in hospital. However, after becoming the first civilian in Britain to receive penicillin, he was eventually cured.

Educated at Monckton Combe School in Bath, Palmer did National Service between 1950-52 before going on to read theology at St. Peter’s College, Oxford where he won an athletics Blue in 1953 as an excellent shot putter, and discus and javelin thrower. He won the AAA shot title in 1955 and 1956, thus ending John Savidge’s run of three wins. Palmer also took Savidge’s UK shot put record off him with a 16.91 in 1956. Palmer was selected for the shot and discus at the Melbourne Olympics, finishing 12th in the former.

On his way home from Australia, Palmer stopped off in New York, where he fell in love with the city’s jazz scene. He was a keen musician himself and, as a pianist, could play every piece of keyboard work written by J. S. Bach. Palmer made the United States his home where he took up various teaching jobs at establishments in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York. He was also a tireless advocate of education reform.

Barclay Palmer hailed from a heritage steeped in history. He was a great grandson of William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army and, through his grandfather Arthur Booth-Clibborn, was a descendant of the founders of Quakerism and Barclays Bank.

Personal Best: SP - 16.91 (1956).