Teenager is top gun at prom
ATEENAGER made a dramatic entrance when he rolled up to his school prom in a 17-tonne tank.
Brennan Boys, 16 from Stacksteads arrived battleready at his end of year prom in a Saurer Tank along with five of his school friends.
The 30-year-old tank, driven by an ex RAF pilot, was loaned to him by his grandfather Brian Boys who is an avid collector of military vehicles.
Brennan, who attends Alder Grange School in Rawtenstall was met by stunned classmates when he arrived at the event which was being held at the Higher Trapp Country House Hotel in Simonstone, many of whom took to social media to share the moment.
The tank, which originates in Austria had previously been used in action but has been deactivated.
Brennan decided on the unique way to travel after speaking to his grandad about his tank collection.
He said: “I came up with the idea about a month ago after seeing some of the tanks which were being done up and thought I wondered if it’d be possible to go to the prom in one.
“I’ve been inside some of the tanks before but haven’t been driven in one, I really enjoyed it – I’m really grateful for my grandad for organising it all. “I was overwhelmed with the reaction we had pulling into the Higher Trapp, everyone was lined up taking photos and filming it. I’d told some of my friends and they told others, but some of the year had no idea and were really shocked. I think it’s probably one of the most unique ways the school has had of getting to the prom.”
Brian, 80, who is a director of B&E Boys building company in Waterfoot and was formerly in the military police.
He has been collecting military vehicles for many years which include WW2 American jeeps, a 55 tonne battle tank and two tanks which were used in the film Saving Private Ryan.
Aside for collecting and restoring tanks, he hires them out for films and has held private viewings to raise money for Help for Heroes. He said: “I got the tank from the Czech Republic. Through this hobby I have made friends all over the world. I do restore them but you need the patience of Job to do it. It was a show stopper actually because they all came out, even the cooks at the hotel, to have a look. A tank beats a stretch limo hands down. Brennan never stopped smiling, and his chums were just elated. I got a lot of pleasure doing that for my grandchildren, it was lovely.”
Joanna Griffiths, head of school at Alder Grange said: “We’ve had some pretty unusual ways of arriving to the prom, including one pupil who turned up in a coffin, but Brennan certainly made a dramatic entrance arriving in a tank. The Year 11 students have worked extremely hard and had a fantastic night at the prom celebrating their achievements.”
PROMS round up - see page 18