Laurie Brokenshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Commodore
Laurie Brokenshire
CBE, RN
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| Commodore | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 October 1952 Plymouth, Devon |
| Died | 4 August 2017 (aged 64) Stubbington, Hampshire |
| Resting place | Crofton Cemetery, Hampshire |
| Citizenship | British |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Ethel Isobel McMahon |
| Children |
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| Alma mater | University of Exeter |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Commodore |
Laurie Brokenshire (1952–2017) was a special person. He was a high-ranking officer in the Royal Navy. He was also a talented magician and a top puzzle solver. Laurie and his wife helped over 70 children by fostering them.
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Early Life and Education
Laurie Brokenshire was born in Plymouth, Devon, on October 20, 1952. His parents were Martin and Pansy Brokenshire. He had two younger siblings, Lynnette and Adrian. From a young age, Laurie loved chess, puzzles, and magic.
He attended Devonport High School for Boys starting in 1964. In 1966, his family moved to Slough. There, he joined Slough Grammar School. He played junior hockey for Buckinghamshire. He also helped run the school's chess and bridge clubs.
After school, Laurie went to the University of Exeter from 1971 to 1975. He earned a degree in Mathematics. He also got a teaching certificate for Maths. He played hockey and table tennis for the university teams. He even beat his Maths professor at chess and the game of Go.
In 1975, Laurie joined the Royal Navy as an Instructor. This was the same career path as his father. He taught Maths at HMS Fisgard, a training center. After more training, he worked in different naval locations. These included Dartmouth, Westminster, and Plymouth.
He became a submariner and later a senior officer. Laurie also earned a second degree in Science from the Open University. He was the Royal Navy chess champion in 2007. He also led the Combined Services Chess Association. He played in the NATO Chess championship many times.
Later in his career, he commanded two naval bases. First, Northwood Headquarters (1992–93). Then, as a Commodore, he led HMS Raleigh (2000–03). This was the Navy's main training center. In 2003, he retired from the Navy. He received the CBE award for his service.
Sea Cadets
After leaving the Royal Navy, Laurie became the Commodore of the UK Sea Cadet Corps. In this role, he visited and inspected many local Sea Cadet groups. He met his distant cousin, James Brokenshire, who was a Member of Parliament.
Magic Skills
Laurie Brokenshire was a member of the Inner Magic Circle. This is a very respected magic group. He sometimes performed magic professionally. He often used his magic skills to help charities. He even performed table magic for members of the British Royal Family. Laurie always had his "magic" bag with him. He could always find a trick for any event, especially for kids.
Puzzling Expertise
In his free time, Laurie became a world-class puzzle expert. He focused on puzzles that involved arranging things or mechanical parts. He talked with puzzle designers and enthusiasts worldwide. He found new ways to solve old puzzles. He was very fast at solving new ones.
Some big puzzle companies hired him as a consultant. He would check if new puzzles were good ideas. His personal puzzle collection was one of the biggest in the UK. He also hosted "Celebration of Mind" meetings at his house.
The Dudeney-Loyd-Brokenshire Problem
There's a famous chessboard puzzle called the "Dudeney Problem." Henry Dudeney, a famous puzzler, said it had only one solution. Many people tried to solve it but failed. Later, Dudeney shared his "unique" solution.
Then, Sam Loyd, another puzzler, found a second "unique" solution. This puzzle became known as the "Dudeney-Loyd problem." About 100 years later, Laurie Brokenshire found the third "unique" solution! This puzzle is now called the "Dudeney-Loyd-Brokenshire problem." Experts have since confirmed there are only three solutions. Laurie is now part of puzzle history because of this.
International Puzzle Parties
Laurie and his wife, Ethel, loved to travel to annual International Puzzle Parties (IPP). These parties were by invitation only. They would camp and bicycle across continents to get there. They cycled through Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Europe, and the US.
Once, Ethel swatted a bear that was near their tent. Another time, Laurie got sick from a tick bite. In 2014, he organized and hosted the IPP34 puzzle party near Heathrow Airport.
Fostering Children
From 1994, Laurie and his wife, Ethel, started fostering children in Hampshire. They provided a loving home for over 70 children in 22 years.
Sea Swimming
In 1986, Laurie Brokenshire swam across the English Channel. His son, Matthew, also swam the Channel later. This made them one of the few father-son pairs to do so. In his later years, Laurie enjoyed swimming in the sea all year round. He was part of a local club called "Shack Sharks." He also competed in cold water swimming events.
Personal Life
Laurie married Ethel Isobel McMahon in 1980. Ethel had also served in the WRNS. They had four children and several grandchildren. Laurie was also a member of Mensa, a high-IQ society.
Illness and Legacy
In early 2016, Laurie was diagnosed with a serious type of brain cancer. His father had also passed away from the same illness years earlier. Laurie's response was amazing. His family organized a 30-mile sea swim off Plymouth. They raised money for cancer charities. They quickly raised over £45,000.
He bravely fought his illness for 18 months. This gave him time to spend with his new grandchildren. Laurie passed away at home on August 4, 2017, surrounded by his family. A large service was held for him at Crofton Church. He was buried at Crofton Cemetery.
Today, Upton Court Grammar School gives an annual award in Laurie Brokenshire's name. It is called the OPA Memorial Prize for Year 13 Mathematics.
