Alfred Blake

Sir Alfred Lapthorn Blake, (6 October 1915 – 17 November 2013) was a British solicitor, Royal Marines officer and councillor. He was Lord Mayor of Portsmouth City Council from 1958 to 1959 and director of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme from 1966 to 1978.

Early life Blake was born on 6 October 1915 in Gosport, Hampshire, England. He was educated from 1926 to 1932 at Dauntsey's School, a private school in Wiltshire. He read law at the University of London, graduating Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in June 1938. He qualified as a solicitor in 1938. He took part in the Allied landings at Anzio in January 1944. He landed in Albania and was involved in the capture of Sarandë on 9 October 1944, and the liberation of Corfu on 14 October 1944. and took over command of 45 Commando. He led them over the Maas, Rhine, Weser, Aller and Elb rivers.

Blake was demobilised in February 1946. He retired from the firm as Senior Partner in 1985 but continued as a consultant until 1999.

Honours and decorations In June 1945, Black was awarded the Military Cross (MC) "for courage, tenacity, and skill whilst serving with the Allied Armies in the Mediterranean". He was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1975 and promoted to Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1979 for his services to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.