Notes
Born in Darjeeling, Bengal, India, on 2 August 1922, the only son of James Richard Blair, ICS, of Calcutta, Michael was educated at Edinburgh Academy 1938-1940 and came up to Corpus on a short course, achieving a 1st in his Classics Moderations in 1941. He was also the college Captain of Rugby and Squash, President of the Owlets (in 1941), editor of the Pelican Record and won an Oxford University Rugby Blue at scrum half in 1940, serving as the Secretary and Acting Captain of the university side in 1941, the year he enlisted into the Reconnaissance Regiment. He also represented Scotland at Rugby in their Service side.