Priestly was born at Maida Vale to Hugh Priestley and his wife, Elizabeth Grainger Hall.
[1] He made one appearance in first-class cricket for the Free Foresters against Cambridge University at Cambridge in 1932.
[2] Batting twice in the match, Priestley was dismissed without scoring by Rodney Rought-Rought in the Free Forester's first-innings, while in their second-innings he was dismissed by the same bowler for 16 runs.
[3] He married Mary Hermia, daughter of Sir George Menteth Boughey, 9th Bt in 1935,[4] with the couple having three children.
[5] He died one week after his 96th birthday in November 2007 at Oakley, Hampshire.