Born in Leixlip, Co. Kildare to Charles and Moira Doran, Edwin was the third of four Doran boys. Educated at Belvedere College, he spent his youth playing rugby. Keen to travel the world, Edwin left Ireland aged 21 for the bright lights of London where he initially worked for Ryan’s Car Hire before starting the first of his many businesses.

In 1974, Edwin started up Rugby Travel – a tour operator organising tours for rugby teams and supporters. Based in Twickenham, Rugby Travel was one of the first of its kind and it wasn’t before long that Edwin saw the opportunity to branch out into all sports and Edwin Doran Sports Travel was born. His business rapidly expanded from purely UK and European tours into long-haul international sporting and educational tours. In 1992, he was the first sports travel company to bring sports tours back to South Africa after the period of international isolation. Also in that year, he arranged tours to include visits to the South African township of Langa to engage more deeply with local cultures. South Africa continued to play a huge part of Edwin’s life and business. It proved to be a very popular destination for both tours and travel, so Edwin set up an office in Cape Town. His love of South Africa led him to buy a home, and later a wine farm, in this very special country.

A pioneer in the sports tour world, Edwin also saw an opportunity to extend his business into the travel world and started up Edwin Doran’s Travel World with shops in both Teddington and Twickenham. Both businesses flourished with Edwin Doran’s Travel World being the go to local travel agents to book your holiday through and Edwin Doran Sports Travel being the largest tour operator for school sports tours in the country. The name is so reputable that, even when Edwin sold the business to Tui in 2010, they kept the name as did the subsequent owners! Edwin Doran Sports Travel is still in operation today and continues to be one of the top tour operators. They recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary.

Even though running his successful businesses and travelling the world, Edwin always had family at his heart. He married his adored wife, Rosie, in 1980. An air hostess for BOAC and then later working for both the family tour operator and travel agents, they travelled the world throughout their lives. They had two children, Georgia, born 1981, and Tom, born 1984, who took on their father’s love of travel, sport, rugby, South Africa and wine. Georgia worked as South Africa Operations Manager for Edwin Doran Sports Travel before becoming a teacher and independent travel agent. Tom went into teaching first before becoming a chef and working alongside his father in the family wine business. Both children played rugby and made their father incredibly proud winning county and country caps – Georgia for Middlesex, Tom for Middlesex, Ireland U18s, England Counties, England Students. Both children went on to have their own children – Georgia a daughter, Romilly, and Tom three children, Arya, Honor and Iosa - and Edwin adored his grandchildren.

Having already incorporated his love of rugby, sport and travel into his business life, Edwin had one final love to turn into a business – wine. Upon the sale of Edwin Doran Sports Travel in 2010, Edwin bought Far Horizons Farm in the Voor Paardeberg area of South Africa, 50 minutes outside of Cape Town. He has since, with the help of son Tom, transformed this business into Doran Vineyards, producing premium wines, offering luxury hospitality and accommodation and conducting wine events both in South Africa and the UK.

In his ‘little’ spare time, Edwin spent years coaching, refereeing and watching rugby. He coached his son’s highly successful Richmond RFC team throughout minis and juniors and even helped a number of players make it into the England International squad. Upon hanging up his coaching boots, Edwin could be found under the posts of Teddington RFC watching both his children play and supporting the club most Saturdays. When not pitch side, he would be watching every rugby match that was available to be seen and was a big supporter of his beloved Ireland. In his final months, it gave him great comfort to be able to watch the British and Irish Lions tour as well as the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

After four years of illnesses, Edwin’s health deteriorated greatly at Easter 2025. He continued to show great strength, fight and determination right up until the end. Late in the hours of Wednesday 10th September, with his wife, Rosie, daughter, Georgia, and son, Tom, holding his hands and Irish music playing softly in the background, Edwin peacefully passed away, or as he would have said himself “went to the rugby club in the sky”.

Edwin leaves an incredible legacy behind but one that will live on for a very long time. A true legend of a man that will be most missed but never forgotten.

Written by Georgia Doran (daughter) on behalf of the Doran Family