The man who founded one of Bath's best-known businesses with his two brothers has died at the age of 88.
George Richard Sparrow launched Sparrow's Crane Hire with his brothers Alf and Gordon and watched it grow to become one of the biggest in the world.
He was a pupil at West Twerton School until, at the age of 14, he joined the family car repair business.
Mr Sparrow would work in the workshop during the day and then drive taxis at night, ferrying American servicemen to their army base in Colerne during the Second World War.
After the war he married Mary Ann Newman and the couple went on to have two children, David and Karen.
From a young age Mr Sparrow had been warned that he was not an academic, with one teacher telling him "Go and stand outside the post office and lick stamps, because you will never be good for anything else".
However, he had a natural business brain and often used to say: "Business is so simple, some people miss it."
International recognition for his crane firm meant Mr Sparrow had the opportunity to travel across the globe, with the firm opening offices in Saudi Arabia and America.
The bright red Sparrow cranes became a familiar sight across England, playing a key part in rebuilding the country after the war.
When the company was later taken over, Mr Sparrow embraced his retirement and became a familiar face at both Bath Racecourse and Lansdown Golf Club with his second wife Annie.
His later years were spent at his home in Lansdown with his family, his two close friends Isobel and Ted, his three grandchildren and his recent great grandchild.
He was passionate about gardening and he and Annie were particularly proud of their orchard, which had spectacular views over his home city.
Mr Sparrow's funeral was held yesterday morning.
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