Jeremy Russell who died aged 82 joined the 4th Hussars as a National Serviceman, reported as being the last officer to be commissioned into the regiment before amalgamation. He then served with the Queens Royal Irish Hussars at Hohne.
Jeremy was educated at Ampleforth and Christchurch taking a law degree before his military service. At school, he was renowned as an extremely talented track runner and held records for 400 yards. While still a boy he started hunting with the Ledbury hounds, an association he continued for most of his life.
At Oxford he carried on an active social life, devoting just sufficient time to his studies to avoid undue interference from the authorities. After commissioning he quickly adapted to life in Germany when there were ample opportunities to take part in the army equestrian competitions. He brought his own horse out from England and performed with great success.
He was a member of the winning QRIH team in the NATO championships. Participation in the French Army competition in Berlin was curtailed by a nasty fall, his recovery requiring the attentions of a number of jeunes filles.
Jeremy had a well-tuned sense of humour and enjoyed projecting a borrowed personality onto an unsuspecting audience. His mastery at the piano of ‘’ A Lullaby Sang in Berkeley Square’’ amazed us all as did the fact he could not progress beyond bar 10. His proficiency in fluent Italian, actually gibberish, was also applauded.
In civilian life, Jeremy worked first in London and then joined his father’s law practice in Malvern where for many years he was a senior partner specialising in capital taxation and estate development. He dispatched his work with military speed and exactitude. He was the Chairman of his local British Legion branch and paraded annually with his habitual elegance. He devoted great care to the farming of his land and property in Gloucestershire.
Horses remained very central to his life. Apart from his devotion to the Ledbury, where he was Hunt Secretary for some years, he was, until his late 60s, a regular competitor in cross county, dressage and show jumping. This activity did not restrict other entertainments. His wife, Diana, had on one occasion extracted him at 8.30 in the morning from his dinner jacket and the poker table before hurrying to a cross-country event where his horse discarded him three times.
His last years were clouded by a debilitating illness which he fought most courageously and his characteristic charm and courtesy never left him.
Jeremy was proud of his connection with his regiments, maintained active friendships with many of his contemporaries and enjoyed the various reunions until the time of his death.
