Robert Lawrie
Encyclopedia
Robert Lawrie was a British alpine
and polar
equipment specialist and racing driver.
Robert Lawrie was born in Burnley
. He trained as a shoe and boot maker
at his father's firm which he later ran. By the late 1920s he had become an accomplished climber and alpinist, and he started to design, manufacture and supply mountaineering boots
to his own design. His boots proved popular and he was commissioned to supply boots for the 1933 Everest expedition led by Hugh Ruttledge
. In 1935 he moved the business, now known as Robert Lawrie Ltd, to London
, eventually working out of premises in his home in Seymour Street. He provided boots, climbing
and mountaineering
equipment to many expeditions including John Hunt's
successful 1953 Everest campaign, for which he trained Wilfred Noyce in the art of boot repair.
A keen amateur racing driver, he participated in four 24 Hours of Le Mans
races, debuting on June 25, 1949. He finished in 11th position in the 1949
Le Mans driving his Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports
(DB1) and also 11th in 1951
driving his Jaguar XK-120C
.
In 1959 the Lawrie Glacier
on the west coast of Graham Land
in Antarctica was officially named. The glacier was first mapped by the British Graham Land Expedition
(1934–37) to which Robert Lawrie had supplied boots and equipment.
Alpine style
Alpine style refers to mountaineering in a self-sufficient manner, thereby carrying all of one's food, shelter, equipment etc. as one climbs, as opposed to expedition style mountaineering which involves setting up a fixed line of stocked camps on the mountain which can be accessed at one's leisure...
and polar
Polar region
Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. The North Pole and South Pole being the centers, these regions are dominated by the polar ice caps, resting respectively on the Arctic Ocean and the continent of Antarctica...
equipment specialist and racing driver.
Robert Lawrie was born in Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
. He trained as a shoe and boot maker
Cordwainer
A cordwainer is a shoemaker/cobbler who makes fine soft leather shoes and other luxury footwear articles. The word is derived from "cordwain", or "cordovan", the leather produced in Córdoba, Spain. The term cordwainer was used as early as 1100 in England...
at his father's firm which he later ran. By the late 1920s he had become an accomplished climber and alpinist, and he started to design, manufacture and supply mountaineering boots
Mountaineering boots
Mountaineering boots are a type of footwear used in the sport of mountain climbing. They are designed specifically for moving over harsh terrain.-Design:Not to be confused with hiking boots, mountaineering boots are usually taller, stiffer, and insulated...
to his own design. His boots proved popular and he was commissioned to supply boots for the 1933 Everest expedition led by Hugh Ruttledge
Hugh Ruttledge
Hugh Ruttledge was an English civil servant and mountaineer who was the leader of two expeditions to Mount Everest in 1933 and 1936.-Early life:...
. In 1935 he moved the business, now known as Robert Lawrie Ltd, to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, eventually working out of premises in his home in Seymour Street. He provided boots, climbing
Climbing equipment
A wide range of equipment is used during rock climbing. The most popular types of climbing equipment are briefly described in this article. The article on protecting a climb describes equipment commonly used to protect a climber against the consequences of a fall....
and mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
equipment to many expeditions including John Hunt's
John Hunt, Baron Hunt
Brigadier Henry Cecil John Hunt, Baron Hunt KG, PC, CBE, DSO, was a British army officer who is best known as the leader of the successful 1953 British Expedition to Mount Everest.-Early life and career:...
successful 1953 Everest campaign, for which he trained Wilfred Noyce in the art of boot repair.
A keen amateur racing driver, he participated in four 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
races, debuting on June 25, 1949. He finished in 11th position in the 1949
1949 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 17th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 25 and 26 1949.This was the first race held following the end of World War II...
Le Mans driving his Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports
Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports
The Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports was a sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1948 to 1950. It was the first product of the company under new owner, David Brown, and is retrospectively known as the DB1. The car debuted at the 1948 London Motor Show and was based on the "Atom" prototype. Just 15 were...
(DB1) and also 11th in 1951
1951 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 19th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 22 and 23 1951.This race saw the death of French driver Jean Larivière within the opening laps of the race.-Official results:-Did Not Finish:-Statistics:...
driving his Jaguar XK-120C
Jaguar C-Type
The Jaguar C-Type is a racing sports car built by Jaguar and sold from 1951 to 1953. The "C" designation stood for "competition"....
.
In 1959 the Lawrie Glacier
Lawrie Glacier
Lawrie Glacier is a glacier flowing into the head of Barilari Bay between Mount Genecand and Mezzo Buttress, on the west coast of Graham Land. Charted by the British Graham Land Expedition under Rymill, 1934-37. Named by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1959 for Robert...
on the west coast of Graham Land
Graham Land
Graham Land is that portion of the Antarctic Peninsula which lies north of a line joining Cape Jeremy and Cape Agassiz. This description of Graham Land is consistent with the 1964 agreement between the British Antarctic Place-names Committee and the US Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names, in...
in Antarctica was officially named. The glacier was first mapped by the British Graham Land Expedition
British Graham Land Expedition
A British expedition to Graham Land led by John Lachlan Cope took place between 1920 and 1922. The British Graham Land Expedition was a geophysical and exploration expedition to Graham Land in Antarctica between 1934 to 1937. Under the leadership of John Riddoch Rymill, the expedition spent two...
(1934–37) to which Robert Lawrie had supplied boots and equipment.