 He was born Oswald O'Brien into the Darlington family of a disabled First World War soldier and mill worker mother in 1928.From St Mary's Catholic Grammar School he went to Fircroft College, Birmingham and St Cuthbert's Society in the University of Durham, during which he served as President of the Durham Union, after World War II service in the Royal Navy which he volunteered for lying about his age by one year (aged 14) to relieve economic pressure on his family.O'Brien was committed to the causes of nuclear disarmament, equality and liberation politics.