After his early education at Trowbridge High School, 'Nick' as he was known to his many friends, joined the Artists' Rifles, and was later commissioned in the Royal Artillery in the first world war. After the war he went to Bristol University where he qualified in 1923, taking the MB BS and FRCS in succeeding years. He showed special interest in gynaecology as a student, and won the Henry Prize in midwifery and gynaecology in 1923. He was appointed consultant general surgeon at the Taunton and Somerset Hospital in 1930, but specialised in gynaecology and obstetrics after 1945. He was active in the BMA, elected member of Council in 1950, Chairman from 1962 to 1966, Vice-President in 1968. He was Vice-Chairman of the Council of the World Medical Association in 1964, when Manchester University conferred on him the honorary LLD. He was made FRCOG in 1965. In 1932 he married Dr Penelope Alice Peach, and had two daughters and one son, also a doctor. He died on 29 November 1979 after a long illness.