Kel Palmer is a proud Mancunian now retired and living in Wales with second wife Rosemarie. He joined the RAF straight from Grammar School, spurning the attractions of a sporting career for a technical apprenticeship leading to commissioning and flying training. Before retirement in the rank of Group Captain in 1983, he spent 17 years flying in mainly the night/all-weather fighter and low level strike/attack roles, followed by a series of Staff/Training tours including seven years in Operational Requirements posts in Whitehall that led directly to his second career in the Defence Industry in l983.
He has lived in all four home countries, also in the USA, Germany, Cyprus and Belgium, and has traveled to over 110 countries worldwide. He has been an accomplished and versatile sportsman, playing his last game of club rugby at 46 and of soccer at 61; an enthusiastic dancer, he is also a great lover of music and of furry friends.
Since retirement from Industry in 2000, he has become intensely involved in Community affairs, Youth clubs and the Environment, for which he received The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2004.