He was born on 30 September 1920 at Stockport, the son of a bank manager and a mother of Irish descent and grandson of a Wesleyan minister. He was educated at William Hulme's Grammar School and Manchester University. As a conscientious objector he served in World War II in the RAF Medical Corps before training for the ministry at Wesley House, Cambridge. During his ministry at Newcastle-under-Lyme 1952-1957 he was a chaplain at Keele University. He joined the NCH in 1957 and became the Principal in 1969, which led to frequent visits to the West Indies. He served on several committees concerned with child-care, including the National Council of Voluntary Child Care organisions from 1969 to 1986 (as Chairman 1970-1972) and the Home Office Advisory Council. In 1979 he played a leading role in the International Year of the Child and was awarded an OBE. His avisory role to Caribbean governments was especially important in Barbados and Jamaica. He served on the governing bodies of Farringtons and Queenswood Schools. He was President of the 1984 Conference. He died on 11 November 2015.