Scottish rugby union Player and international referee
Rugby player
Alfred Lawrie (1882–1942) was a Scottish rugby union player and an international referee. He became the 57th President of the Scottish Rugby Union.[1]
Rugby Union career
Amateur career
He was educated at Fettes College and Oxford University. At Oxford's Trinity College he played for the rugby union team Oxford University,[2] receiving his first 'blue' on 1903.[3]
On his return to Scotland, Lawrie played for Edinburgh Wanderers.[3][4][5]
Referee career
He refereed the Scotland Probables versus Scotland Possibles match in December 1923.[6]
He became an international referee. He refereed the Ireland versus France match in the Five Nations Championship of 1926.[7]
Lawrie refereed in the 1926 Melrose Sevens.[8]
Administrative career
He was a committee member of the SRU before becoming President.[2]
He was the 57th President of the Scottish Rugby Union, in post from 1936 to 1938.[9]
His time as President was notable as he gave comprehensive statements to the Press after General Meetings of the SRU. This was reported as a 'revolutionary break with tradition' for the SRU.[3]
Cricket career
He played cricket both for Fettes College and Trinity College in Oxford.[10]
Stockbroking and business career
He was a senior partner in the firm Lawrie & Ker of Edinburgh.[2] In 1925, he became a member of the Edinburgh Stock Exchange Committee; in 1931 he was elected its chairman.[11]
He held many directorships of various companies:- the first, second and third Edinburgh Investment Trusts; Murrayfield Ice Rink and Sports Stadium; Oregon Mortgage Company; Realisation and Debenture Corporation of Scotland; the Scottish Insurance Corporation; and the Scottish Reversionary Company.[11]
He was the Chairman of Rest Hotels; and the St. Andrews Trust.[11]
He was a Vice-President of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce until 10 days before his death, when he retired due to ill-health.[11]
Other interests
He wrote a register of Fettes College in 1923; 'The Fettes College Register 1870–1922'.[12] He was a Governor of the Fettes Trust.[11] He refereed the College Sports Day in 1922.[13]
During the Second World War he joined the Special Constabulary. He also did philanthropic work with the Church of Scotland for the Hut and Canteen work for H.M. armed forces; and was an elder of St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.[14][11]
He was a Chairman of the West Edinburgh Unionist Association.[11]
He was also a Justice of the Peace for Edinburgh City Council.[11]
Death
Lawrie died on 2 May 1942 at his home in North Berwick.[2] He was cremated on 5 May 1942.[15]
He died in the same weekend as Patrick Munro. Munro had a similar career to Lawrie: both went to Oxford University and played for the Oxford University rugby union side, both breaking through in 1903; both became Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union; and both were prominent Unionists.[16]
References
