David Orr

Sir David Alexander Orr MC* (10 May 1922 in Dalkey, County Dublin – 2 February 2008) was an Anglo-Irish businessman, philanthropist and World War II veteran.

Early years Orr was born the third of four children to Canon A.W.F. Orr, an Anglican rector at Canon of Christ Church Cathedral. David Orr attended The High School, Dublin and went on to study Classics at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was a boxer and captain of rugby.

Unilever After the war, Orr returned to Trinity to complete a degree in Law.

Globe Theatre In 1982, Orr had also been asked to help rebuild the Globe Theatre. As chairman of the Globe Theatre Trust he had been a brilliant fundraiser. The building was finally completed in 1997.

Honours Orr was knighted in 1977. In 1979, he was appointed a Commander of the Dutch Order of Orange Nassau.

Affiliations Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast President, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine President, College of Speech Therapists Governor, London School of Economics. Chairman, British Council (1985–92) Joint Chair, Anglo-Irish Encounter

Sports A boxer and rugby player, in London he played rugby centre for London Irish, captaining the club in 1951-52; he also had a trial for Ireland.

Personal life In 1949, he married Phoebe Davis, with whom he had three daughters, all of whom survive Orr, who died in 2008, aged 85, from undisclosed causes.