Lawrence Wragg 1943 -2022

Lawrence Wragg 1943 -2022

Posted on Nov 08, 2022 by jsw  | Tags: Lawrence Wragg

Lawrence Wragg receiving the long service award 2015

It is with great sadness that we announce that one of Cambridgeshire’s leading countryside campaigners and a stalwart CPRE supporter, Lawrence Wragg, has died at the age of 78.

Lawrence first became involved with countryside issues as a founder member of SCARE (South Cambridgeshire Against Rural Extinction) more than 30 years ago.  SCARE was launched in response to a planning application to build a large shopping complex in Duxford.  He later became Chairman of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough branch of CPRE. Over the years he has also served the branch as Vice-Chairman and Treasurer. He also held the same three offices for CPRE’s Eastern Region and was a trustee and Vice-Chairman of the national organisation.

Campaigning to save rural England was one of his many interests. He chaired Fowlmere Parish Council until May this year.  A keen pianist, he was actively involved with Cambridge University’s Music Society and a member of the English Baroque Choir.  He was also a member of the London Mountaineering Club, the Windmill Cycling Club and most winters found him taking to the ski slopes. Another passion was aeroplanes.  He spent many happy hours soaring over the countryside in a Cessna called Zulu Foxtrot. 

“In the winter he skied, in the summer he climbed mountains – and all year round he campaigned tirelessly to protect our countryside,” said Alan James, the current Chairman of Cambridgeshire CPRE.  “Lawrence lived life to the full and really was a man for all seasons.  He will be sorely missed.”

Lawrence read French at Bristol University, spending part of his degree course at the Sorbonne in Paris.  His work with London Multinational took him to Malaysia, where his elder daughter Isabel was born.  After his return to England, his son David and younger daughter Helen were born. 

His funeral will take place at 11.00 on Friday 18th November at Ickleton Church.  Family flowers only but donations can be made to the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. All three of his children, their spouses and his four grandchildren are planning to join a 2.5 kilometre fund-raising festive run on 27th November to raise money for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. Donations can be made at https://arhc.enthuse.com/pf/team-de-villamill.