Sir Peter O'Sullevan dubbed, as "The Voice of Racing," has died at the age of 97. Sir O'Sullevan worked as a BBC racing commentator and has commentated on 50 Grand Nationals and 14,000 races before his retirement in 1997.
Sir Peter O'Sullevan was born on March 3, 1918 in Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland. He was the son of Colonel John Joseph O'Sullevan, resident magistrate of Killarney, and Vera (née Henry). He attended school at Hawtreys, Charter House School, and later at College Alpin International Beau Soleil.
He set up a charitable trust in 1997, which raised a huge amount of money that went to help an animal and racing-related charity.
We get to know who Sir Peter O'Sullevan was from the words of his former friends and colleagues in the "Tribute to Sir Peter O'Sullevan" on BBC Radio 5 Live Spor, and on their Twitter accounts.
"Sir Peter was one of the greatest men I've ever known."
"Only last week he was talking about what he wanted me to do for the trust in the future. He was still very alert. It's a sad day," says Nigel Payne, Chief Executive of the Charitable Trust.
"Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the epitome of class. The most distinguished and eloquent voice of racing," says AP McCoy, 20-time Jump Jockey Champion.
"He made it feel as if you were riding in it. You felt like you were on the horse yourself," was how Jimmy Lindley, who worked with O'Sullevan on BBC, described the late commentator's expertise in his work.
"Incomparable, irreplaceable, indelible. Sir Peter will never be matched & never forgotten. The ultimate pro & the definition of a gentleman."
"Synonymous with the sport, his distinctive commentary graced many of racing's historic moments - from Red Rum's Grand National victories to Desert Orchid's extraordinary Gold Cup triumph."
"Peter was a legendary commentator and will be greatly missed," Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, comments.
"Two things he said to me were: to remember that the only thing we will be remembered for is the commentary we get wrong and that we are only half a second away from saying something wrong on air. Those words stuck with me for the next 30 years," John Motson, a fellow Commentator, recalls fondly.
