Born at Kew, Melbourne on 31 May 1928, eldest son of Leslie and Mildred Howett and grandson of Robert Howett of Market Harborough, Leicestershire; he was educated at Melbourne University. He was resident medical officer and surgical registrar at St Vincent's Hospital in 1952-53, and resident medical officer at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne in 1954. He then came to Britain and after taking the Fellowship in 1958, worked at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, where he died on 19 March 1961, aged 31, as the result of an accident. He was survived by his grandfather, his parents, and a brother and sister.