David Alexander Orr:DAVID ALEXANDER Orr, who died on February 2nd, aged 85, was the Dublin-born chairman of Unilever, Inchcape and the British Council and Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast.
He was born in Dalkey in 1922, the third of four children of Canon AWF (Billy) Orr and Grace Robinson. They moved first to Wicklow and then to Taney Church of Ireland parish in Dundrum, Co Dublin, where his father was rector until retirement in 1956.
David won a scholarship to the High School, then in Harcourt Street, Dublin, and went on to read classics at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was a champion boxer and noted rugby player.
He interrupted his studies to enlist with the British army in 1941, serving with the Royal Engineers in Burma.
One episode of his service there saw him command a bridge-laying tank, charged with erecting a scissors assault bridge across a 30ft wide valley, under heavy rifle and mortar attack.
Characteristically, he never spoke, even to his family, of the actions which led to his being awarded the Military Cross on two occasions.
He returned to Trinity in 1946 to complete a law degree and then joined Unilever as a graduate trainee. In the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate, he quickly became noted for his marketing ability with the group's high-profile detergent brands such as Persil and Omo.
One of the happiest periods of his career was spent in India from 1955-1960 with Hindustan Lever, and it is testament to the lasting impression that he made there that after his death, a memorial service was held in St Thomas' Cathedral, Bombay.
After returning to London for a time, he moved to New York to become president of Lever Brothers in 1965. He joined the Unilever board in 1967, and became vice-chairman and then chairman in 1974.
The group was at the time one of the world's largest and most diverse companies, and David oversaw expansion in the US, as well as achieving a closer working relationship between the many business interests.
His management style could be tough, but was always tempered with immense good humour, a willingness to listen and generosity to his staff, which inspired a great sense of loyalty. He promoted and encouraged the careers of those with whom he worked, and they rarely forgot his words of sound advice.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1977 and received the equivalent Dutch honour - Commander of Orange-Nassau - in 1979.
After retirement from Unilever in 1982 he took over the chair at the trading company Inchcape; he sat on numerous other boards including the court of the Bank of Ireland, was a governor of the London School of Economics, and a member of the Armed Services Pay Review body.
A new phase of his life developed as chair of the British Council from 1985 to 1992. David relished the opportunity to travel with them, promoting British cultural life and educational opportunities across the world. He was asked by the British and Irish governments to chair the cultural think tank, Anglo-Irish Encounter.
His love of theatre came to the fore as chairman and principal fundraiser with Globe Theatre Trust, the project to build a full working replica of Shakespeare's original theatre on London's South Bank, which was completed in 1997.
He greatly enjoyed his time as chancellor of Queen's, relishing the chance to renew his connections with Irish cultural life.
He enjoyed sport of all kinds, especially rugby, playing centre for London Irish, becoming captain in 1951-52 and serving as president from 1986 to 1988.
He loved poetry, and his humour and hospitality made him the centre of any party.
Although he lived abroad all his adult life, he was very proud of his Irish upbringing and lost no opportunity to return, with his family, as often as possible.
He was warm, generous, kind and a greatly loved husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Phoebe, daughters Catherine, Paula and Bridget, and his nine grandchildren.
Sir David Orr: born May 10th, 1922; died February 2nd, 2008