He was educated at Gravesend Grammar School and Imperial as a research assistant and lecturer, and in 1967 became head of the Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, and director of Imperial College's Field Station at Silwood Park.
He was educated at Gravesend Grammar School and Imperial College London, then worked for his Ph.D. degree at Rothamsted Experimental Station. He returned to Imperial as a research assistant and lecturer, and in 1967 became head of the Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, and director of Imperial College's Field Station at Silwood Park.