Farewell to King’s Troop officer, Olympic eventer, and former Badminton winner

Main Basic James Templer, the King’s Troop officer, Olympic rider and former Badminton winner died on 14 December, aged 87.

Born 8 January 1936, James was the son of Brigadier Cecil Robert Templer and Angela Mary Henderson. He attended Charterhouse College in Surrey, then the Royal Navy Academy Sandhurst.

James was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1955. He grew to become British cross-country ski champion in 1958 and was supplied a spot within the crew for the Winter Olympics, however as a substitute joined the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and attended the equitation course at Melton Mowbray.

He purchased his first horse, Anglo-Arab gelding M’Lord Connolly, in 1961 and the subsequent yr they have been second at Little Badminton, and have become European champions at Burghley. In 1963, they gained the worldwide three-day occasion in Munich, and in 1964 gained Badminton.

That yr, they competed on the Tokyo Olympics alongside Mike Bullen on Sea Breeze, Ben Jones on Grasp Bernard and Richard Meade on Barberry. After the Olympics, James was being posted to Malaya, and so his beloved M’Lord Connolly was bought to US rider Mike Plumb.

James was additionally a profitable novice jockey, profitable the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown on Pax Vobis in 1962 and 1963.

He retired from the Military in 1990 and arrange a small enterprise along with his spouse Sally, importing and promoting silk blooms.

A service of thanksgiving was held for James at Garrison Church of St Alban the Martyr, Larkhill, final month.

He’s survived by his spouse Sally, kids William, Sophie and Tristram, stepchildren Alex and Barley, and eight grandchildren.

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has coated a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call just some. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fort Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to dwelling. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting crew for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.