 He was educated at Birmingham University and remained there for the majority of his career, contributing to the development of biometrical genetics, human behavioural genetics, and supervising a number of students who went on to make their own contributions, among them David Fulker.He was a scientific officer/principal scientific officer in the ARC Unit of Biometrical Genetics from 1953 to 1965.In 1960 he was made an honorary lecturer in the Birmingham University Department of Genetics, eventually becoming Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Pro-Vice Chancellor.