1. Denis Blundell was born in Wellington to Henry Percy Fabian Blundell, grandson of Henry Blundell, founder of The Evening Post and scion of the ancient Lancashire family.
13 Facts About Denis Blundell
1. 2.
Denis Blundell never practised in the United Kingdom and returned to New Zealand in 1930, practising as barrister and solicitor in Wellington.
3.
Denis Blundell was a partner in the Wellington law firm of Bell Gully from 1936 to 1968.
4.
Denis Blundell fought in North Africa and Italy, was brigade major of the 5th Infantry Brigade from 1943 to 1944, briefly commanded the 23rd Battalion with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1944, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
5.
Denis Blundell was President of the Wellington District Law Society in 1951, President of the New Zealand Law Society for six years and Vice-President of the Law Society of Asia and the Pacific in 1966.
6.
Denis Blundell was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953, and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1967 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to the legal profession.
7.
Denis Blundell was a talented cricketer, and opened the bowling in first-class cricket for Cambridge University, MCC and Wellington.
8.
Denis Blundell was President of the New Zealand Cricket Board from 1959 to 1962.
9.
Denis Blundell was appointed by Prime Minister Keith Holyoake as High Commissioner for New Zealand in Britain and Ambassador to Ireland in 1968.
10.
Denis Blundell was appointed in 1972 by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of her prime minister Jack Marshall to the office of Governor-General of New Zealand.
11.
Denis Blundell was the first Governor-General to appear on the electoral roll, for the 1972 general election, although it is unknown whether he voted.
12.
Denis Blundell died while on holiday at Townsville, Queensland, Australia, in 1984.
13.
Denis Blundell was buried at Purewa Cemetery in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank.