Tireless Cambridgeshire countryside campaigner, former parish council chair and keen pianist Lawrence Wragg dies at 78

Lawrence Wragg, one of Cambridgeshire’s leading countryside campaigners, has died at the age of 78.

The county branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) paid tribute to his tireless efforts.

Lawrence became involved in countryside issues as a founder member of SCARE (South Cambridgeshire Against Rural Extinction) more than 30 years ago.

The organisation 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 and also o served as vice-chairman and treasurer. He held the same three offices for CPRE’s Eastern region and was a trustee and vice-chairman of the national organisation.

Lawrence had many other interests too.

He chaired Fowlmere Parish Council until May this year and was a keen pianist, actively involved with the University of Cambridge Musical Society and a member of the English Baroque Choir.

He was a member of the London Mountaineering Club, the Windmill Cycling Club and most winters he could found taking to the ski slopes.

He was also passionate about aeroplanes, spending many happy hours soaring over the countryside in a Cessna called Zulu Foxtrot.

Alan James, the current chairman of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CPRE, said: “In the winter he skied, in the summer he climbed mountains – and all year round he campaigned tirelessly to protect our countryside.

“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 and spent some of his degree course at the Sorbonne in Paris.

His work with London Multinational took him to Malaysia, where his eldest daughter, Isabel, was born. Following his return to England, his son David and younger daughter Helen were born.

He was also a keen runner, who tackled the Wimpole Parkrun every Saturday and later volunteered there as a barcode scanner.

Lawrence’s three children, their spouses and four grandchildren are planning to join a 2.5 kilometre fund-raising festive run on November 27 to raise money for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. Donations can be made at https://arhc.enthuse.com/pf/team-de-villamill.

Lawrence’s funeral takes place at 11am on Friday, November 18 at Ickleton Church.

Only family flowers are requested, but donations can be made to the hospice.