KBGS Old Boys' Forum

A place to discuss Keighley Boys' Grammar School. 


Terms of use.  Anonymous, offensive, or malicious postings will  be deleted. School-related topics only please. If you need to add a "family notice" reply to any of the current messages in that thread, and remember to change the Subject to the name of the newsworthy person.

 

 

KBGS Old Boys' Forum
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Re: George 'Spike' Rannard

David,

Spike's full name was George Edgar Rannard, b. 5 December 1917, d. 2 January 2018. His funeral was a very moving but also uplifting occasion, largely owing to the very personal, eloquent testimonies of members of his family and a long-standing friend. It ended on a typically 'Spikeish' note with Marlene Dietrich singing 'Lily Marlene', which wartime song his granddaughter had found him singing (in German), sitting up in bed in hospital, just a couple of days before he died. Not bad, eh!

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

Re: George 'Spike' Rannard

Thanks for this, Doug. So, his middle name was Edgar! I had put my money on 'Edward'. Thanks also, for your comments on Spike's granddaughter's memory of him singing 'Lily Marlene',in German, in his hospital bed, a few days before his death. What a man! David

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1945-50

Current location (optional) Keighley

Re: George 'Spike' Rannard

My brother Peter, 1941-1946, always said that Spike was a fighter Pilot in the war .Was he in fact

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1943-46

Current location (optional) Tasmania

Re: George 'Spike' Rannard

No, Mike, he wasn't. He never even learned to drive a car, much less own one! His army service was spent in the Intelligence Corps mainly. His only contact with aircraft - he told me, once - was one evening, early on in the war, he was walking home after late-night carousing with friends (in Liverpool), when suddenly he heard the sound of an aeroplane coming closer and closer and his instinct made him throw himself down behind a wall. A couple of moments later there was an almighty explosion and the German bomber had pretty well destroyed the building on the other side of the wall where he had taken shelter!

Good to have you back posting again, Mike.

Doug

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

Re: George 'Spike' Rannard

Just gone on the site, and the displayed photo is of John and Spike. Good memories of the last but one reunion meal!

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65

Current location (optional) Leeds