Born on 16 October 1923 into a staunch PM family at Buxton. In his youth he played in the West Lancashire Cricket League. A hearing defect, later cured by an operation, ended his service in the RAF, but led to a lifelong interest in hearing problems. After eleven years in industry he obtained a teaching certificate at the Bolton Technical Teachers Training College and then taught at technical colleges in Warrington and St. Helens, where he became head of the Business and Administrative Studies Department in 1971. Further study at Liverpool University led to a Diploma in Public Administration, an MA in Social Sciences, a PhD and MEd and other professional qualifications.
At the age of 16 he became a local preacher and in 1980 was accepted as a senior candidate for the ministry. But following a severe heart attack, he became a supernumerary in 1986. He published a number of books and over 250 articles on business studies, hearing loss, theology and Primitive Methodism. In (A Little Primitive (2001) the historical survey is combined with autobiography and oral history. He died on 12 October 2005.