 He became a barrister, called to the bar by Lincoln's Inn in 1947 and became Director of Extramural studies at Durham University from 1947 to 1959, serving as chair of the National Institute for Adult Education from 1957 to 1960.Boyden was a councillor on Durham County Council from 1952 to 1960 and a member of the executive of the Fabian Society.Boyden was Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland from 1959 to 1979, preceding Derek Foster.