Ran Laurie

William George Ranald Mundell Laurie, better known as Ran Laurie ( born June 4, 1915 in Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, † September 19, 1998 in Hethersett, Norfolk ), was a British rower. He was successful with the two coxless and 1948 Olympic champion in this discipline. He was the father of actor Hugh Laurie.

Biography

Ran Laurie was born in the county of Cambridgeshire. He began rowing when he visited the boarding Monkton Combe School near Bath, and entered the prestigious rowing club Leander Club in Henley -on-Thames at. From 1933 he studied medicine at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. He participated in three Boat Races against the University of Oxford and each time was successful. For each team also John Wilson, his paddle partner was in later years. At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin Laurie rowed in the British eight that finished fourth. In 1938 he won with Wilson at the Henley Royal Regatta in the coxless pairs.

The Second World War interrupted Laurie's athletic career. For ten years he worked for the Sudan Political Service, the administration of the colony Sudan. In 1948 he won with Wilson for the second time the Henley Royal Regatta, a month later, he won the Olympic Summer Games in 1948 at the same regatta course the gold medal.

1951 Laurie was elected Steward of Henley Royal Regatta and was thus responsible for their organization. From 1954 he practiced during more than 30 years as a general practitioner in Oxford. From 1959 to 1969, he stood before the committee of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, 1986 to 1989, he chaired the British branch of the Children's Fund, Save the Children.

Laurie was married in 1944 to Patricia Laidlaw, until her death in 1989 They had two daughters and two sons.; the youngest child is the actor Hugh Laurie, who was also successful as a rower in his youth. 1990 married Mary Laurie Arbuthnott, 1998, he died at the age of 83 years.