Palin was educated at Canford School and St John's College, Cambridge.
During his National Service, Palin served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, being commissioned from cadet to second lieutenant on 10 May 1958.
[4] On 1 February 1962 he rejoined The King's Royal Rifle Corps, Green Jackets Brigade, in the Army Emergency Reserve.
[5] On 21 January 1963 Palin joined the Royal Air Force, being granted a permanent commission as a flying officer, with seniority from 1 November 1961.
[11] In the 1979 New Year Honours Palin was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).