Rhubarb 2017

ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

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Reconnaissance Regiment RAC (56 RR) on Salara Ridge, south-east of Bologna. On the evening of 7th February, having taken over an outpost in a ruined house well forward of his own lines, he led an ambush patrol half a mile behind enemy lines. They spotted a dozen Germans moving along the west side of the ridge and a machine gun, firing down a gully, gave them some unpleasant moments before they returned. In the early hours of the following morning there was a heavy concentration of shelling and mortar fire on the house. The ceiling collapsed and there was a long burst of Spandau fire. Everything went quiet for a few moments and then men were heard approaching along a ditch. As they got close to the house, a voice in English shouted: “A Company, Two Section. Don’t shoot!” But the defenders had heard German voices and one of Pickard’s troop, who had taken cover among the rubble, jumped up and fired half a magazine in that direction. The response to this was a brilliant green flash from a Panzerfaust: the high- explosive anti-tank projectile blew a hole in the rear wall, burning some of the defenders and much of their ammunition. The Germans hollered: “Why don’t you come out and fight!” and a shouting match developed between the two sides. Armed with grenades and sub-machine guns, the enemy launched an assault into the gap. They got within five yards of the house before Pickard, who had been wounded in the thigh, manned the breach with a Bren gun team and broke up the attack. Fierce fighting lasted for more than an hour but, despite his wounds, Pickard moved from post to post encouraging

all still alive and they were going to relive their Henley experience. They duly took to the water and proceeded down to the start. I think the race record is just over six minutes, by the time they returned to the finish what seemed like an hour later, we were all dying of hunger, but honour had been satisfied, they finished the course, and were all still alive! When I arrived at St Edward’s after he had left, I was told, “Oh yes I remember your brother! He is the only man I know who could eat a loaf of bread at a sitting!” Whilst attending St Andrew’s, as well as his degree, he received a half blue for squash and I think was also Captain of the team. I played him one day, he would be about 20 and I was 12. I was obviously soundly thrashed. After St Andrew’s it was down to London where he started training as an accountant with Pannell, Fitzpatrick, Graham and Crewdson under the guidance of Michael Howard. This is where he met his future wife Catriona, who has so lovingly supported him all these years. They were married in 1968, and they became the proud parents of Richard and Sarah, and later were much delighted in the role of grandparents to Josephine and Robert. PICKARD – On 1st September 2016, Geoffrey Pickard (G, 1938-1941). The following obituary has been taken from The Telegraph : Geoffrey Pickard, who has died aged 92, was awarded an MC in 1945 during the Italian Campaign. In February 1945 Pickard was commanding a troop of “B” Squadron 56

trouble. He attended the army school, in Mum’s own words “Progress at none of these schools was spectacular” and he also became a gang leader at Deepcut (showing early leadership skills!). So he was sent off to Primrose Ware’s school near York aged six-and- a-half, then Packwood Haugh in Shropshire. We went to live in Germany and Richard and Rachel would fly back to England to attend school. Rich used to look after his sister, but they also had an array of universal aunts who would stick luggage labels in their lapels like Paddington Bear and point them in the right direction! Whilst in Germany, Richard encouraged Rachel to run away with him, after they had some disagreement with their parents, they filled pillow cases with food and went off to visit their friendly batman in the guardroom. They bribed him not to tell their parents but unfortunately Pop was in charge of his regiment, so they ended up back home! Then to St Edward’s, Oxford where he was in the School 1st VIII, winning the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley in 1958 and getting enough A levels to get him into St Andrew’s to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics. After Henley the school crew were invited over to Scandinavia to race, and they were all made lifetime members of a rowing club. The only story I had was that they were locked in a room with beer and weren’t allowed out until they had finished it. It was perhaps then that he was made an honorary life member of the club! Years later he invited

we were all trained to reins at an early age! During the day the Ayah looked after him and brought him down at tea time so he could play. Before he appeared all the valuables were moved, he was then fastened to a sturdy piece of furniture and only his toys put in reach. We all know he loved gadgets and he was obviously curious about how things worked, even then! By this time Pop had been declared missing presumed dead. Initially I think Mum tried to get a boat home but then stories came back that the Suez Canal had been closed which meant a long voyage around the Cape of Good Hope and there was a danger of being sunk. So other plans were made. Luckily, Mum had a distant cousin with a tea plantation in the South of India, and it was arranged for her to go there. The dampness and warmth here made older children grow tall and lanky and not very strong! According to locals, my brother obviously hadn’t heard the lanky and not very strong bit! It was here that Moppy started receiving postcards from Pop to say that he was alive. In 1943 it was decided it was safe enough to try and return home to England. They were the first ship to get through the Suez Canal after it had been reopened. So quite a character-forming start for a young man. They returned to Helme Lodge, Kendal, Mum’s family home. Richard was five by then, and attended the kindergarten. A year later, after Pop had returned from the war, they moved down to Fleet and then Deepcut in Surrey where they lived opposite the guardroom and Richard used to escape there when in

V A L E T E O B I T U A R I E S

Gwyneth and me down to Henley. His old crew were