Uren Family Genealogy & History

Tom Uren (1921–2015) was a prominent Australian politician and influential figure in the Australian Labor Party. Serving as the Member for Reid from 1958 to 1990, he held key ministerial positions including Minister for Urban and Regional Development. Uren was renowned for his commitment to urban renewal and heritage conservation, helping establish the Australian Heritage Commission. He played a significant role in the restoration of inner Sydney areas and was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and nuclear testing. Uren was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia and later advanced to a Companion of the Order of Australia, marking his contributions to public service and environmental advocacy.

Uren was born in Balmain, Sydney, into a family of Cornish ancestry, originally from Penzance. His early life in a working-class suburb and education at Manly High School influenced his later political and social endeavors.

Jeffery Macandrew-Uren was a renowned British engineer and racing driver, celebrated for winning the British Saloon Car Championship in its second year. He played pivotal roles as a driver and team manager in motorsport, notably for Ford Motor Company's rallying efforts and AC Cars' 1964 Le Mans team. Uren was instrumental in creating performance-enhanced Ford models, showcasing his talent as a tuner and customiser. His career was marked by competitive racing, including appearances in the Monte Carlo Rally and the East Africa Safari Rally, and setting class lap records at prestigious circuits such as Aintree and Brands Hatch. Uren continued to be involved in historic racing events until 2000.

Jeff Uren was born on 17 October 1925 in Brentford, Middlesex, and raised in Cornwall, reflecting his Cornish descent. He had four siblings and initially worked alongside his brother Douglas in a contract plant hire business, marking the start of his entrepreneurial ventures. His family connections and early experiences in heavy equipment leasing contributed to his later success in the automotive industry.

Sir John Michael Leal Uren was a prominent British businessman known for his pivotal role as chairman of Civil & Marine, a company he founded in 1955. Uren's innovative approach transformed blast-furnace slag into high-quality cement, making his business highly lucrative and leading to its sale for GBP £245 million in 2006. A graduate of Imperial College London, Uren was also a notable philanthropist, donating GBP £40 million to his alma mater to establish a Bio-Medical Engineering Research Centre. He was honored with an OBE and was knighted for his philanthropic contributions.

Dick Uren, born on February 26, 1926, was a distinguished rugby union player known for his tenure with Waterloo R.F.C and his four caps for the England national rugby team. Uren's athletic prowess extended beyond rugby; he represented Cheshire in both rugby union and golf, and was a successful racing sailor. Notably, he played in the 1948 and 1952 Five Nations Championships, scoring a total of seven points for England. Uren also contributed significantly to Cheshire's County Championship victory and was invited to the 1950 British Lions tour. His sporting career and achievements are well-remembered.

Richard Uren was born in West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula to Harold Uren, an accomplished association footballer with Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C. Dick was the youngest of seven siblings, with one brother, Harold Uren, achieving recognition as a British Lions rugby player. Uren was educated at Calday Grange Grammar School and later joined the family business, H. J. Uren & Sons, where he worked until retirement in 1986. He married Diana in 1962, and the couple had two sons and a daughter.