A lifetime of unlikely adventures

The bar and journalism

‘At King’s I was fortunate enough to live in Halliday Hall on Clapham Common where I made several life-long friends. After graduating, through Professor Graveson’s kind recommendation, I proceeded to Cambridge to study Conflict of Laws and was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn. I practised at the London Bar, first in commercial chambers at 1 Brick Court, then in common law chambers in King’s Bench Walk. During this time I also wrote a regular column for the Daily Mail, but after a few years, I decided that I really wanted to become a teacher.’

Schoolmaster and explorer

‘I returned to Cambridge to teach law and, simultaneously, to read English, graduating in literature. I then spent six months working my way all-round the USA, getting various jobs, including talking frog in a children’s funfair, hotel manager, cowboy, newscaster for local radio, working in a migrant labour camp near Sacramento and spending a couple of nights in prison (voluntarily!). My travels then took me to numerous places, including Bihar in India where I worked with a famine relief operation.

‘Then followed a 30-year career teaching English. I mainly taught at Oundle School, which included a four-year period on exchange in Sydney, Australia. While there I travelled extensively in Southeast Asia, resulting in some unusual adventures. These included an (unexpected) private meeting with Colonel Gadaffi, sitting as the judge in a bush court in Papua New Guinea (having previously been mistaken for a missionary and expected to act as such) and having lunch with Salvador Dalí in his house.’

Artist

‘In my 50s a brain tumour caused me to lose most of my hearing, rendering teaching impossible. So I developed my life-long love of painting to become a professional watercolour artist (I had been President of the Fine Arts Society at King’s). This led to over 30 solo exhibitions in London, Paris and various other capital cities, some under the aegis of the British Council.

‘I was delighted when King’s asked me to produce a watercolour painting of the Strand Campus, which brought back my happy years there.  

Other activities

‘As well as painting, I latterly restored several ancient ruins in England and Portugal, including the 16th century Drovers’ Inn in Oundle where I still live, having converted the original stables into a private art gallery. I also enjoyed an active musical life, first as an oboist, then a bassoonist, and going on to found the Beaufort Ensemble, a chamber group, which continues to perform after 50 years.’

Autobiography

‘The Covid lockdown offered the opportunity to write my autobiography which was recently published by Unicorn under the title: “Is That Really True, Sir?”. There is now talk of this becoming a feature film.

‘So, my life journey has been somewhat irregular, but I have enjoyed every part of it and am grateful to King’s for giving me the confidence to pursue unlikely avenues whenever opportunities arose.’

A 400-copy limited edition print run of this painting is now available to be purchased online, with a significant contribution made to the King’s College Development Fund for each print sold.