John Ranking
Encyclopedia
John Maurice Ranking was an English rower
who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics
.
Ranking was born at Holborn, London, the son of Dr. R. M. Ranking. He was educated at Cheltenham College
where he was cox
of the Cheltenham boat and at Pembroke College, Cambridge
. In 1931 he was cox of the winning Cambridge
boat in the Boat Race. He coxed the winning Cambridge boat in the Boat Race again in 1932. The 1932 crew won the Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley, rowing as Leander Club
. They were subsequently chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
, where they came fourth in the eights
.
Ranking took his B.A. in the Natural Sciences Tripos in 1932 and completed his medical training at St Thomas's Hospital. He qualified by taking the London Conjoint diploma in 1936 and in the following year he obtained the degrees of M.B. and B.Chir. In 1938 was admitted a MRCP
. After qualifying, he held a number of house appointments at St. Thomas's Hospital, and was also house-physician at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children.
During the Second World War Ranking served in the R.A.M.C.
, with the rank of temporary major.
In 1948 Ranking became a consultant in general medicine at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells and retained the post until his death. His expertise and skill was often publicly acknowledged. He maintained his interest in rowing and was a member of the Leander Club till his death.
In 1946 Ranking married Miss Patricia McLeod.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
.
Ranking was born at Holborn, London, the son of Dr. R. M. Ranking. He was educated at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
where he was cox
Coxswain (rowing)
In a crew, the coxswain is the member who sits in the stern facing the bow, steers the boat, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.- Role :The role of a coxswain within a crew is to:...
of the Cheltenham boat and at Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
. In 1931 he was cox of the winning Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
boat in the Boat Race. He coxed the winning Cambridge boat in the Boat Race again in 1932. The 1932 crew won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley, rowing as Leander Club
Leander Club
Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is based in Remenham in the English county of Berkshire, adjoining Henley-on-Thames...
. They were subsequently chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where they came fourth in the eights
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
.
Ranking took his B.A. in the Natural Sciences Tripos in 1932 and completed his medical training at St Thomas's Hospital. He qualified by taking the London Conjoint diploma in 1936 and in the following year he obtained the degrees of M.B. and B.Chir. In 1938 was admitted a MRCP
Membership of the Royal College of Physicians
Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians is a postgraduate medical diploma. The examinations are run by the Federation of the Medical Royal Colleges of the United Kingdom – the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the Royal College...
. After qualifying, he held a number of house appointments at St. Thomas's Hospital, and was also house-physician at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children.
During the Second World War Ranking served in the R.A.M.C.
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
, with the rank of temporary major.
In 1948 Ranking became a consultant in general medicine at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells and retained the post until his death. His expertise and skill was often publicly acknowledged. He maintained his interest in rowing and was a member of the Leander Club till his death.
In 1946 Ranking married Miss Patricia McLeod.