John Charlton Palin (1934– 2025)

John Charlton Palin, Olympian rifle shooter and distinguished OH, was a sportsman of exceptional dedication whose achievements placed him among the very finest marksmen of his generation.

Born on 16 July 1934 in Chennai (then Madras), India, John went on to represent Great Britain at two Olympic Games, becoming only the second double Olympian from Allhallows School, following Peter Roeson — a distinction of which he was justly proud.

John’s association with shooting began at the age of 13 while he was a pupil at Allhallows. His talent was evident early on: by 1950, he had earned Open Range 1st VIII Colours, Miniature Range Colours, competed in the Schools Hundred, and won the Taylor Cup. He also served in the Combined Cadet Force, gaining Certificate “A”, and was appointed House Prefect during his final years at the school.

Although he briefly stepped away from the sport, his passion was reignited during his service with the Royal Artillery, where his skill and discipline flourished.

He made his debut for Great Britain in 1959 in the Dewar Trophy, a postal match between Great Britain and the United States, and went on to represent his country in the prestigious Pershing Trophy match on four occasions between 1961 and 1973. In 1962, he was runner-up in the British small-bore championship at Bisley, confirming his place among Britain’s elite shooters.

John’s international reputation was cemented in 1965 when, during trials for the European Championships, he broke the world record in the 50-metre small-bore rifle prone event with a score of 598 out of 600 — surpassing the Olympic record jointly held by László Hammerl of Hungary and Lones Wigger of the United States. He followed this achievement by winning silver at the European Championships.

Selected for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, John finished an outstanding fifth in the small-bore rifle prone event, just one point short of a bronze medal. His selection marked a notable milestone for Allhallows, celebrated at the time as a “first” for the school, and one remembered fondly by contemporaries — including a celebratory dinner in London shared with a fellow Allhallows sportsman who was then in the provisional Great Britain hockey squad.

Ahead of the 1972 Munich Olympics, John was widely regarded as a medal contender. Only weeks before the Games, he shot a perfect score of 600 at an international meeting in Switzerland — acknowledged by British and Swiss officials as a world-record performance, though sadly not ratified due to a technicality in competition format. Despite entering Munich as one of the favourites, he was unable to reproduce his best form on the day and finished 54th in a highly competitive field of 101 shooters.

Outside of sport, John worked professionally for Shell-Mex BP, balancing a demanding career with his commitment to international competition. He was also associated with The Lensbury Club at Teddington Lock, a hub for many elite British athletes.

John Palin will be remembered not only for his remarkable achievements on the shooting range but also as a trailblazer for Allhallows, a dedicated servant of British sport, and a quiet, determined competitor who performed at the very highest level. His legacy lives on in the history of Olympic shooting and in the pride of the school and sporting community that shaped him.