Background
Blackshaw was born in Liverpool and was educated at Merchant Taylors" School, Crosby (as a foundation Scholar) 1944–1951, and at Wadham College, Oxford (where he was an Open Scholar), 1951-1954, and took a degree in Modern History.
Blackshaw was born in Liverpool and was educated at Merchant Taylors" School, Crosby (as a foundation Scholar) 1944–1951, and at Wadham College, Oxford (where he was an Open Scholar), 1951-1954, and took a degree in Modern History.
Master of Arts in History, Oxford (England) University, 1954; Master of Arts, Oxford (England) University, 1960.
In the 1950s he climbed in the Alps, making ascents of the north-east face of Piz Badile, the north face of the Aiguille du Triolet, and the south face of Pointe Gugliermina. Expeditions outside Europe include the Caucasus, Greenland and the Garwhal Himalaya. In 1972, he made a continuous ski traverse of the Alps from Kaprun to Gap, and between 1973 and 1978 he likewise traversed Scandinavia by ski, from Lakselv to Adneram.
In 1965, he published the handbook Mountaineering: From Hill Walking to Alpine Climbing.
1973–1976: President, British Mountaineering Council (Patron since 1978)
1985–1997: Chairman of Committee for Plas y Brenin, Sports Council National Mountain Centre, North Wales
1985–1988: Chairman, British Ski Federation
1991–1994: Chairman, Scottish National Ski Council (and President, 1994–2000)
1997–2003: President, Ski Club of Great Britain
2001–2004: President, Alpine Club
2004–2005: President, International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA)
1954–1956: 42 Royal Marines Commando, Cliff Assault Wing (officer instructor)
1956–1974: Royal Marines Reserve (mountain warfare instructor)
1956–1979: Civil service
1965–1967: First Secretary, Diplomatic Service, with United Kingdom Delegation to Organization of European Cooperation and Development, Paris
1967–1970: Principal Private Secretary to three Ministers of Power
1971–1972: Head of Home Branch, Iron and Steel division
1972–1974: Seconded to Charterhouse Bank in the City of London
1978–1979: Under Secretary, Coal division, London
1979–2007: Management consultant with Strategy International Limited and Oakwood Environmental Limited
1990–1995: Board Member, Scottish Sports Council
1991–1997: Board Member, Scottish Natural Heritage.
Freeman, City of London, 1963. Member main board Scottish Natural Heritage, Edinburgh, 1991-1997. Board directors Scottish Sports Council, Edinburgh, 1990-1995, Paths for All Partnership, 1996-1998, Cairngorms Partnership, 1998-2004.
Chairman National Mountain Center, North Wales, 1986-1995. Chairman mountaineering commission Union International des Associations d'Alpinism, Berne, Switzerland, 1990-1998, special representative United Nations global moutnains program, 1990-2005, president 2005, chairman access and conservation and working group, 1996-1997. Chairman United Kingdom Mountain Training Board, 1990-1994.
President Scottish Ski Council, Edinburgh, 1991-1999. Patron British Mountaineering Council, since 1978. Captain Royal Marines, 1954-1976.
Member British Ski Federation (board directors, chairman 1984-1987), Alpine Club (honorary, editor, president 2001-2004), Ski Club Great Britain (president 1997-2004, Pery medal 1976).
Married Jane Elizabeth Turner, June 6, 1956 (divorced 1983). 1 child, Sara; married Elspeth Paterson Martin, June 1, 1984. Children: Alasdair, Elsie, Ruth.