his second role was that of "radical outsider". working sometimes with others, sometimes on his own, he was adept at stirring up public opinion over matters where official interest in reform was lacking. he took a major part in the campaign to liberalise the law on abortion, which largely succeeded with the abortion act 1967. he was also very active in the campaign to legalise voluntary euthanasia, which has so far largely failed. he was both president of the abortion law reform association, and a vice-president of the voluntary euthanasia society.