Larry L'Estrange

{{Short description|British soldier and rugby player}}

{{distinguish|Laurence L'Estrange}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Larry L'Estrange

| honorific_suffix = MBE

| image =

| birth_name = Laurence Percy Farrer L'Estrange

| birth_date = 12 November 1934

| birth_place = {{nowrap|Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, United Kingdom}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2007|3|29|1934|11|12}}

| death_place = {{nowrap|Condom, Gers, France}}

| occupation = Professional rugby player

| spouse = {{plainlist|

• Marian L'Estrange
• Beulah L'Estrange

}}

| children = Fiona Anne Kathleen

| relatives = Lawrence L'Estrange (father)

| module =

| alma mater = Trinity College Dublin

}}

Larry L'Estrange MBE (12 November 1934 – 29 March 2007{{cite web |url=http://www.london-irish.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=271&start=120 |title=London Irish Old Boys |publisher=The Sudbury Center |accessdate=30 November 2014}}) was a British paratrooper and rugby player.

The son of a British diplomat, L'Estrange was born in Lytham St Annes in 1934 and was educated at Blackrock College, Dublin; the University of Chicago; and the Sorbonne in Paris. He undertook National Service, being deployed as part of the Parachute Regiment in Suez during the 1956 crisis. He was commissioned, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel before returning to Ireland to study modern history and political science at Trinity College Dublin.

After his military career, L'Estrange played for London Irish, where he was awarded the 1963–64 Backs' Honours tie. He also made appearances for Sussex and the Territorial Army. He was capped once for Ireland in 1962, against England at Twickenham,{{cite web |title=Laurence l'Estrange Ireland |publisher=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/player/6666.html |accessdate=30 November 2014}} where he was one of nine debutants.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Peter |date=2021-02-08 |title=Peter Jackson: Peter O'Mahony's elbow did little for Tomas Francis’ looks but real damage to title hopes |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists-rugby/arid-40222349.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}} L'Estrange dislocated his finger during the match and was said to have had a 'ghastly' game.{{cite news |title=Three sink as nine go in at deep end in Twickenham |date=29 January 2006 |newspaper=Irish Independent |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/three-sink-as-nine-go-in-at-deep-end-in-twickenham-26407840.html |accessdate=30 November 2014}}

His father, Lawrence L'Estrange, was the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Honduras from 1969 to 1972.{{cite news |work=The London Gazette |date=27 June 1969 |title=Foreign and Commonwealth Office |page=6698 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44884/page/6698 |accessdate=1 December 2014}}

In 1972, he was awarded the Member of the British Empire in the 1972 Birthday Honours.{{Cite web |title=THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 MAY 1972, No. 45678 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45678/data.pdf}}

In 1984, he made the news when he was mistakenly barred from entering Greece because he had a Turkish North Cyprus visa in his passport. After protesting to the Greek Embassy in London, he was given a full apology plus a return plane ticket and 2 weeks holiday in Greece for free. L'Estrange was a partner at Tustain and L'Estrange, Stockbrokers in the City of London and later became an insurance broker, working at Thorman Hunt & Co, in Bow, London. The company now sells wholesale alcoholic beverages.{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01381889|title=THORMAN HUNT & CO LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date=2016-10-31}}

L'Estrange died on 29 March 2007 after being hospitalized for a broken hip in Condom, Gers, France, aged 72.{{Cite web |title=Espace de Recueillement de Monsieur Lawrence L'ESTRANGE |url=https://www.libramemoria.com/defunts/l-estrange-laurence/b4abcfe56523466b877842e0659ccdcd |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=www.libramemoria.com |language=FR-fr}}