at oxford he was successful in athletics, competing in sprinting and hurdling. he also made a name for himself in raising money for the then little-known charity oxfam, famously claiming to have obtained the support of the beatles in a charity fundraising drive (it was actually pat davidson of oxfam). the band accepted the invitation to visit the senior common room of his brasenose college, where they were photographed with archer and dons of the college, although they did not play there. it was during this period that he met his future wife, mary. his parents were john and mary archer who gave birth to him in 1940. jeffery archer only had one sibling and that was his brother, thomas archer who is a renowned politician for the conservative party.