Sir Reginald Oswald Palmer was sworn in as Governor General of Grenada on 6 August 1992 and served until 8 August 1996. 

Early life and education

Born on 15 February 1923, he was educated at the Beaulieu Roman Catholic School and the St. George’s Roman Catholic Boy’s School. Sir Palmer worked as a pupil teacher for a short while, then in 1943 entered the Government Teachers’ Training College in Trinidad where he spent two years and was awarded the Trained Teachers Certificate.

Career

Dedicated to the field of education, Sir Reginald became an assistant teacher at the St. George’s Roman Catholic Boys School from 1945 to 1956. During that period he acquired the London Matriculation Certificate and in 1956 was made the Head Teacher of that school.

In 1963, Sir Reginald entered the University of Birmingham in England and following a two year programme, was awarded a certificate relative to a Course of Studies in Education for Heads of Schools and Administrators.

Sir Reginald was appointed a tutor at the Grenada Teacher’s College in 1968 and two years later entered the University of Calgary in Canada. He returned to Grenada in 1971 with a Bachelor of Education degree and the following year was promoted to the post of Assistant Education Officer. In 1973 he was made Principal of the Grenada Teachers’ College, a post he held for only one year before becoming Chief Education Officer.

Sir Reginald retired from the public service in 1980 and, entering the private sector, served for two terms as President of the Grenada Employer’s Federation.

In addition to membership of several Catholic organizations, he has been at various times a member of the Governing Body of the Grenada Boy’s Secondary, the Public Service Commission, Grenada Education Advisory Council, Grenada Civic Awareness Organisation, the Labour Advisory Board, the Drug Avoidance Committee and the Local Advisory Council of the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies.

Sir Reginald is a foundation member of the Catholic Teacher’s Association, the Caribbean Association of Catholic Teachers and the Grenada Teachers’ Social Security and Welfare Association of which he was Secretary from 1951 to 1969. As a member of the Grenada Union of Teachers, Sir Reginald advanced from assistant secretary to vice president and onto President. He has also represented this union on the Board of Education.

Honours and awards

In 1973, his services to education were recognised when he was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) and, in 1972 when he became Governor General, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG).

Personal life

Sir Reginald was married to Lady Judith who served at one time as an opposition Senator under Congress in the late 1980’s.

Death

Sir Reginald Palmer died on 23 May 2016, aged 93. He was accorded a State funeral after a Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Church Street in St. George’s, Grenada.