Background
Rand was born in Tottenham, the eldest of three children.
Rand was born in Tottenham, the eldest of three children.
After the war the family returned to Tottenham and Rand attended Down Lane School.
He started rowing on the River Lea in east London at the age of 14 where he sculled a Thames skiff until he was good enough for a fine boat. He raced at various regattas such as the Norfolk Sculls in 1952 until, he joined the Royal Air Force on National Service that year. He was posted to Royal Air Force Benson, where as a corporal, he rowed for the Royal Air Force, the force"s rowing facilities being based with Wallingford Rowing Club across the River Thames.
After completing his three years of National Service, Rand moved to Henley on Thames, where he joined Leander Club, working full-time for a Henley building firm.
They were selected for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne where they were the fastest losers in the repechage. In 1960 Sid Rand competed in the Single sculls at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
The marriage ended after five years. After his international career, Rand turned to coaching at Upper Thames Rowing Club and Leander Club and spent time with the British squad at the end of the 20th century.
He continued to row and scull himself, competing regularly.
He also resumed skiffing being a successful competitor at the Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta. Rand died of cancer at the Royal Berkshire Hospital aged 74.