 From 1955-57 he was educated at Rossall School which soon developed into a career in the Royal Air Force doing National Service, before he then went to Oxford University in 1957, where he first began playing jazz professionally at functions and competitions, founding the Oxford University Big Band.On leaving university in 1960, he went to France and worked as a professional musician in the American army bases for about nine months.Returning to London, he did supply teaching, mostly French, and started to join various blues bands.