Frank Pullen

Francis Henry "Frank" Pullen (8 September 1915 – 17 January 1992) was an English businessperson and racehorse owner.

Early life

He was born, the youngest of four children, as Francis Henry Pullen to Arthur James and Alice Pullen (née Richards) at Catford, South London and great nephew to James Pullen. His father died while serving with the Royal Navy during World War I and Alice Pullen had to support her children during the Depression. Young Pullen found work feeding the local workhorses, earning a shilling a week ( 5 pence ), showing early entrepreneurial flair and sparking his love of horses. Pullen married aged 17 and became a chef.

War Years

Pullen enlisted in the British Army at the start of World War II and was one of the survivors of D-Day, landing at Gold Beach. Later during the conflict he helped liberate the Belgian town of Lessines. The grateful town gave him the freedom of the city and he later named three of his homes (one in Bromley,south London one in Lee, South London and one in Looe, Cornwall, where he would holiday) "Lessines" in honor of this.