Ran Laurie
Ran Laurie | |
---|---|
Born | William George Ranald Mundell Laurie 4 May 1915 Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, England |
Died | 19 September 1998 Hethersett, Norfolk, England | (aged 83)
Nationality | British |
Education | Monkton Combe School |
Alma mater | Selwyn College, Cambridge |
Occupations |
|
Spouses |
|
Children | 4, including Hugh |
Olympic medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing Great Britain | ||
Men's rowing | ||
1948 London | Coxless pairs |
William George Ranald Mundell Laurie (4 May 1915 – 19 September 1998) was an English physician, Olympic rowing champion and gold medallist. He was the father of actor Hugh Laurie.
Early life, education and rowing career
Laurie was born in
Laurie began his rowing career at
Laurie rowed for Cambridge in the 1934, 1935, and 1936 boat races, all of which were won by Cambridge. He was in the boat with Jack Wilson, who was to become his rowing partner later in their careers. At the 1936 Olympics, he rowed as stroke in Great Britain's eight, the team eventually finishing in fourth place. Together, Laurie and Wilson, rowing for Leander Club, won the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta in 1938.[4]
After war interrupted their rowing careers, Laurie and Wilson returned to Henley in 1948, once again winning the Silver Goblets. This was followed a month later by a gold medal in the coxless pair event at the 1948 Olympics in London, rowing on their familiar Henley course.[5] It was described by Laurie as "the best row we ever had". Laurie and Wilson were the best pair of their generation, and it was not until Steve Redgrave and Andy Holmes won the Olympics in 1988 that Britons once more excelled in this class of boat. Laurie and Wilson were known as the "Desert Rats" because of their sojourn in the Sudan. They were trained at Leander Club by Alexander McCulloch, who won a silver medal at the 1908 Olympics. Their boat is now on show at the River and Rowing Museum at Henley-on-Thames, hanging above the boat that won the 1996 Summer Olympics with Redgrave and Pinsent.[6]
Laurie was elected a steward of Henley Royal Regatta in 1951, and also served as a Henley umpire. He sat on Henley's management committee between 1975 and 1986.[7]
Colonial and medical career
Laurie joined the
Personal life
In 1944, Laurie married Patricia Laidlaw; they were married until her death from
Laurie died of Parkinson's disease in 1998 at the age of 83.[6]
See also
References
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Profiles: Hugh Laurie". Hello!.
- ^ a b Quayle, Robert (2002). "Old Alliances: Selwyn and Monkton". Bluefriars Newsletter. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
- ^ "Henley Royal Regatta: Results of Final Races 1839–1939". Friends of Rowing History.
- ^ "Ran Laurie". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d Dodd, Christopher (10 October 1998). "Obituary: Dr Ran Laurie". The Independent. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ Dodd, Christopher (November 1998). "Obituary: Last of the Desert Rats". Regatta Online. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-85126-200-0.
- ISBN 978-0-19726-110-1.
- ^ "Minutes of Oxford City Council South East Area Committee meeting" (PDF). Oxford City Council. 10 October 2005. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007.
- ^ "Health centre opens its doors". This is Oxfordshire. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
- ^ "The descendants of Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Bt. of Edinburgh". Kittybrewster.com. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)