Alan Blackshaw
Encyclopedia
Alan Blackshaw OBE was an English
mountaineer
, skier and civil servant who was President of the Alpine Club
from 2001 to 2004.
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), 1951–54, and took a degree in Modern History.
, 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 1966, he published the handbook Mountaineering: From Hillwalking to Alpine Climbing.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, skier and civil servant who was President of the Alpine Club
Alpine Club (UK)
The Alpine Club was founded in London in 1857 and was probably the world's first mountaineering club. It is UK mountaineering's acknowledged 'senior club'.-History:...
from 2001 to 2004.
Early life
Blackshaw was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby
Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby
Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby is a British independent school for day pupils, located in Great Crosby on Merseyside....
(as a foundation Scholar) 1944-1951, and at Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
(where he was an Open Scholar), 1951–54, and took a degree in Modern History.
Mountaineer and skier
In the 1950s he climbed in the Alps, making ascents of the north-east face of Piz BadilePiz Badile
Piz Badile is a mountain in the Bregaglia range in the Swiss canton of Graubünden and Italy, the border between the two countries running along the summit ridge. Its northeast face is considered one of the six great north faces of the Alps....
, the north face of the Aiguille du Triolet, and the south face of Pointe Gugliermina. Expeditions outside Europe include the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and the Garwhal Himalaya.
In 1972, he made a continuous ski traverse of the Alps from Kaprun
Kaprun
Kaprun is a small alpine village in the district of Zell am See in the state of Salzburg, Austria. At the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, it is a year round sports centre, with a population of 2,903 ....
to Gap
Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Gap is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes department.-Geography:An Alpine crossroads at the intersection of D994 and Route nationale 85 the Route Napoléon, Gap lies above sea level along the right bank of the Luye River...
, and between 1973 and 1978 he likewise traversed Scandinavia by ski, from Lakselv to Adneram.
In 1966, he published the handbook Mountaineering: From Hillwalking to Alpine Climbing.
- 1973-1976: President, British Mountaineering CouncilBritish Mountaineering CouncilThe British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers...
(Patron since 1978) - 1985-1997: Chairman of Committee for Plas y BreninPlas y BreninPlas y Brenin, is currently the The National Mountain Centre for Wales . The Centre is situated in Dyffryn Mymbyr, the Mymbyr Valley, in Snowdonia and is less than a quarter of a mile south-west of the centre of Capel Curig on the A4086 road....
, 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 BritainSki Club of Great BritainThe Ski Club of Great Britain is a recreational snow sports club, founded on May 6, 1903. It is a not-for-profit organisation. The Ski Club was until the 1960s responsible for the British racing teams.-Respect the Mountain campaign:...
- 2001-2004: President, Alpine ClubAlpine Club (UK)The Alpine Club was founded in London in 1857 and was probably the world's first mountaineering club. It is UK mountaineering's acknowledged 'senior club'.-History:...
- 2004-2005: President, International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA)
Career summary
- 1954-1956: 42 Royal MarinesRoyal MarinesThe Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
Commando, Cliff Assault Wing (officer instructor) - 1956-1974: Royal Marines ReserveRoyal Marines ReserveThe role of the Royal Marines Reserve of the United Kingdom is to support the regular Royal Marines in times of war or national crisis. The RMR consists of some 600-1000 trained ranks distributed among the five RMR Centres within the UK...
(mountain warfare instructor) - 1956-1979: Civil serviceCivil serviceThe term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
- 1965-1967: First Secretary, Diplomatic Service, with UK Delegation to OECD, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
- 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 LondonCity of LondonThe City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
- 1974-1978: Under-Secretary and later Director-General, Offshore Supplies Office, Member of Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Offshore Energy Technology Board, and Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board
- 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
- 1998- : Member of Cairngorms Partnership Board