Harry Llewellyn

Sir Harry Morton Llewellyn, 3rd Baronet CBE, OBE (July 18, 1911 – November 15, 1999) was a British equestrian champion, who was born in Aberdare, South Wales, as the son of a colliery owner, Sir David Llewellyn, 1st Baronet.

Background

A younger son, he only inherited the baronetcy on the death of his brother in 1978. His younger brother Sir David Llewellyn was a Conservative politician.

Cambridge University & the Army

Llewellyn was educated at Oundle School and at Trinity College, Cambridge, before going into the army.

Early career

He achieved some success as a show-jumping champion during the 1930s, and competed in the Grand National steeplechase, coming second in 1936.

World War II

During World War II he saw action in Italy and after D Day in Normandy and served as a liaison officer to Field Marshal Montgomery, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel in the British Army.

Olympic Gold Medal, Fame & Foxhunter

In 1952 he secured a gold medal in show jumping, at the Helsinki Olympic Games for the British equestrian team, riding the legendary "Foxhunter". Foxhunter died in 1959. After Sir Harry's death, his own ashes were scattered near Foxhunter's grave on the Blorenge mountain above Abergavenny.

Family & Personal Life

Sir Harry Llewellyn lived near Abergavenny in Monmouthshire. In 1990 he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.

He was married to Christine Saumarez, a daughter of the 5th Baron de Saumarez.

Their sons, Dai and Roddy, became well-known media personalities from the 1960s onwards, the former because of highly publicized relationships with Tessa Dahl and Orson Welles's daughter Beatrice, and the latter because of an eight-year affair with Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon.

References

* [http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LLEWEHAR01 databaseOlympics.com]
*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/527389.stm BBC article]
* [http://www.oundlesociety.org/SirHarryLlewellyn.asp] Biography of Sir Harry from Oundle School Society
* [http://www.times-olympics.co.uk/historyheroes/stgbo03.html] The Times Great British Olympians