Biographical Overview

Blair’s early family arrangement saw Shoena and Blair sent to the Wairarapa region to attend school while their parents travelled around New Zealand deciding where to settle professionally. Eventually, their father established himself in Masterton, becoming a consultant physician at Masterton Hospital after a short period of adjustment. The family home was set up at 89 Renall Street, which also doubled as both residence and medical consulting rooms, with their mother working as receptionist and helping run the practice. This created a lively, socially connected household embedded in the local community.

Blair’s school life began at Wairarapa College, where he and Shoena were introduced publicly by the headmaster after arriving in kilts—an event that became memorable and frequently recalled by others. Soon after, they had to adopt standard school uniforms, marking a shift from their earlier attire and boarding arrangements. Shoena boarded at Purnell, while Blair stayed at College House and later lived locally once the family secured nearby accommodation.

A strong sense of independence developed during this time, including visits to rural areas such as Mangamaire between Eketahuna and Pahiatua, where Blair formed friendships and experienced farm life activities such as rabbit shooting. Meanwhile, their father achieved a notable medical milestone by being among the first in New Zealand to use a portable heart tracing machine (early ECG technology), charging significant fees for the service at the time.

A serious turning point occurred during a horse-riding accident at Te Kopi Road in Masterton, where a jump over a ditch resulted in a broken leg involving both bones. The injury led to hospitalisation and a long recovery, including a missed term of school and ongoing physical consequences due to metal plates remaining in the leg. This period also coincided with challenges at school, including being held back in the fourth form at Whanganui Collegiate School, where Blair struggled academically and socially, partly due to dyslexia, a severe stutter, and the effects of prolonged illness and recovery.

Despite these difficulties, sport—especially golf—became a major outlet and defining strength. At Masterton Golf Club, Blair trained regularly and developed a close friendship with contemporaries, including Bob Charles. Practicing frequently during school holidays and weekends, he refined his skills through repetition, distance judging, and bunker practice. This dedication eventually led to competitive success and a steadily improving handicap.

Golf continued strongly during school years at Whanganui, including regular play at Belmont Golf Course and structured school routines involving chapel, lessons, and restricted weekend freedoms. Despite success in sport, school life remained difficult due to bullying and strict discipline practices typical of the time. Eventually, Blair achieved prefect status, which reduced bullying and increased authority among peers.

After completing university entrance, Blair was directed toward medical studies at University of Otago, though without strong personal enthusiasm. While living at Knox College, he attended some lectures and passed certain subjects like chemistry, but did not pursue medicine seriously. Instead, golf remained a major focus, including participation in university competitions and achieving multiple holes-in-one—eventually totalling seven across different courses and years.

One of Blair’s most significant golfing achievements was winning the Otago University championship in 1956 under difficult weather conditions. Alongside sport, there were notable social experiences, including an encounter with the von Trapp family during a visit to Masterton, where they visited the family home and participated in informal cultural gatherings.

After leaving university, Blair moved into farm work at Caves Road, working with livestock including Aberdeen Angus cattle and Romney sheep. This period involved early morning routines, physically demanding labour, and exposure to rural New Zealand farming practices. The work was hands-on and sometimes dangerous, including being thrown by a bull during veterinary treatment of animals.

A major transition followed with travel to the United Kingdom alongside a friend, involving long sea journeys via multiple countries and ports including Australia, Asia, and the Middle East. Upon arrival, Blair took various jobs, including market research at Paddington Station and even temporary work as a chauffeur driving a Rolls Royce. Social life included staying with relatives in Surrey and travelling to Scotland, where connections to Aberdeen Angus farming continued.

Extended travel across Europe followed, including France, Spain, Italy (Rome, Venice, Pisa), Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Living conditions were basic, combining camping and van travel, but the experience was broad and exploratory. Work in the UK included roles in advertising, catering administration, and later farming again in Oxfordshire (Banbury area), where Blair managed livestock, crop work, machinery, and general farm operations on a large property.

During this period, farming responsibilities expanded significantly, including sheep management, shearing, and introducing more structured livestock practices. Blair also balanced rural work with regular travel to London for social life. Eventually, after several years abroad, he returned to New Zealand.

Back in New Zealand, life transitioned into long-term employment and family development. Blair met Judy in Wellington through family connections and eventually became engaged and married at St Mark’s Church, Wellington in 1962 after an 18-month engagement. The relationship became central to his life moving forward.

Professionally, Blair worked across several accounting and finance roles, beginning with Guardian Assurance, then moving to C&A Odlins where he played a key role in modernising systems, including introducing early computerisation using punch cards. He also helped establish company golf tournaments that grew significantly in size and participation over the years. Later roles included senior finance positions at Carlton Carruthers du Chateau and New Zealand Van Lines, where he identified accounting errors, improved systems, and implemented computer networking across multiple branches.

Despite professional success, later employment also brought stress, particularly in high-pressure financial management roles. Eventually, Blair stepped away from corporate work, returned to the Wairarapa, and undertook smaller accounting and advisory roles, including helping struggling businesses remain solvent.

Family life continued alongside this career path, with children born between 1965 and 1973. Education and schooling for the children were locally based, and family life remained closely connected with both sets of grandparents and extended relatives. Over time, Blair transitioned fully into retirement, reflecting on a varied working life that combined farming, sport, international travel, and finance.