Framlinghamian 2023-2024 Single page - web 144dpi - Flipbook - Page 299
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and another great friend, Chris Sneath:
“Chris Sneath and Dr John Rankin (K4756) remember an incident, when the 昀椀ring
of a Verey pistol on a CCF Corps Day
mysteriously led to a 昀椀re in a haystack.
After 昀椀re engines had dealt with this, a
local police constable entered the dining
hall (unannounced and in instant silence)
demanding to know who the culprits
were. However, the resourceful Sneath
and Rankin were able to persuade him
and their marriage was blessed with
that the stack 昀椀re must have been caused
two children, Marcus and Abi(gail), both
by internal combustion!”
of whom went on to give John those
grandchildren who came to mean so much
John would be the 昀椀rst to admit that
to him in later life.
academics did not come easily to him.
He had to work hard to achieve the
John’s funeral was held on Friday 12
quali昀椀cations needed to go on to study
January at All Saints Church, Dovercourt.
medicine at St George’s Hospital,
A packed church heard tributes from his
London. That aspiration was not one
son, Marcus, son-in-law Gary (Squires)
readily endorsed by his teachers. But
and grandson, Harry. Around a dozen
John persevered, showing that human
OFs were present, alongside former
qualities and empathy are perhaps even
colleagues, and what seemed like half
more important than formal quali昀椀cations
of the population of Dovercourt. John
as criteria for assessing the success of
represented those old-fashioned values
a career dedicated to medicine, and
which put a doctor at the heart of a
general practice in particular.
community, living in their midst, knowing
them as friends as well as patients.
John was born in Colchester, close to
Layer Road, the old football ground, and
In recent times he had come to know
that explains his lifelong support of ’The
Gwen, the elder sister of another OF,
U’s’. His father was away 昀椀ghting in North
Roy Farman (K47-55), who died in New
Africa in the early years of infancy. After
Zealand a year ago. Margaret and
Brandeston, Framlingham, and medical
Andrew Wright had suggested to John
training, he enlisted with the Royal Army
that singing was a good way of 昀椀lling a
Medical Corp (RAMC), became Captain
post-bereavement void so John joined the
Rankin, and spent time with the troops in
local choir, Harwich Sing, and met Gwen,
Borneo.
and their latter-day friendship came to
light up the lives of them both. John –
On return home, he met his wife-to-be,
whether or not he was good singer – must
Angela while playing mixed hockey,
have made an immediate impact. Some
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