"blackie", as he was known to friends and colleagues, married fellow d'oyly carter theresa mary hewett "tessa" snelson (1870–1939) in 1902; they were introduced to each other on the stage of the savoy theatre by w. s. gilbert. the two became early members of the gilbert and sullivan society in london, in which they both served on the entertainment committee, supervising 'dramatic recitals' for the society in celebration of the operas' jubilees, including staging excerpts from "utopia, limited" and "the gondoliers" for the society's 1936 centenary celebration of the birth of w. s. gilbert. blackmore also served on the society's executive committee and wrote articles for the society's journal concerning stagecraft in general and his career with the d'oyly carte opera company. blackmore made his last public appearance by reprising his role as sir bailey barre in the gilbert and sullivan society's concert version of "utopia, limited" on 29 april 1939, forty-six years after originating the role at the savoy theatre.