Olympic Gold Medalist. Born William George Ranald Mundell Laurie, he was a British rowing champion and medical doctor. He rowed at his prep school, Monkton Combe, and for Cambridge University, his alma mater, leading Cambridge to wins over Oxford in the Boat Races of 1934, 1935, and 1936 (in an eight man shell). He would compete in the eight man shell for Great Britain at the 1936 Olympics, finishing fourth. He continued his rowing career as half of a coxless pair team partnered with Jack Wilson. They would win the Silver Goblets at Henley in 1938. Their racing career was broken by the war. Both served in the administration of the Sudan during the war, with Laurie being named as the District Commissioner of Nyala. In 1948, they again won the Silver Goblets competed in the Olympics, winning the gold in the coxless pairs. Their winning boat is on display at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley. In 1954, he became a physician, working as a general practitioner in Blackbird Leys for 30 years. He was named a steward at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1951, and he was chair of the Oxford Branch of Save the Children from 1986 to 1989. His youngest son, Hugh Laurie, is a noted actor.
Olympic Gold Medalist. Born William George Ranald Mundell Laurie, he was a British rowing champion and medical doctor. He rowed at his prep school, Monkton Combe, and for Cambridge University, his alma mater, leading Cambridge to wins over Oxford in the Boat Races of 1934, 1935, and 1936 (in an eight man shell). He would compete in the eight man shell for Great Britain at the 1936 Olympics, finishing fourth. He continued his rowing career as half of a coxless pair team partnered with Jack Wilson. They would win the Silver Goblets at Henley in 1938. Their racing career was broken by the war. Both served in the administration of the Sudan during the war, with Laurie being named as the District Commissioner of Nyala. In 1948, they again won the Silver Goblets competed in the Olympics, winning the gold in the coxless pairs. Their winning boat is on display at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley. In 1954, he became a physician, working as a general practitioner in Blackbird Leys for 30 years. He was named a steward at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1951, and he was chair of the Oxford Branch of Save the Children from 1986 to 1989. His youngest son, Hugh Laurie, is a noted actor.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
Gravesite Details
Grave 46, memorial plaque. Ashes scattered near Gairloch Beach.
Family Members
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