Alfred Lawrie

Alfred Lawrie (1882–1942) was a Scottish rugby union player and an international referee. He became the 57th President of the Scottish Rugby Union.

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, receiving his first 'blue' on 1903.

On his return to Scotland, Lawrie played for Edinburgh Wanderers.

Referee career

He refereed the Scotland Probables versus Scotland Possibles match in December 1923.

He became an international referee. He refereed the Ireland versus France match in the Five Nations Championship of 1926.

Lawrie refereed in the 1926 Melrose Sevens.

Administrative career

He was a committee member of the SRU before becoming President.

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.

Stockbroking and business career

He was a senior partner in the firm Lawrie & Ker of Edinburgh.

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. He was a Governor of the Fettes Trust.

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.

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.