Born in the Midlands and read Natural Sciences at Cambridge. After a year teaching in Cameroon, switched to medicine, with clinical studies at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, qualifying in 1970. In 1975, spent 3 months as a locum GP in Australia then 2 years as Medical Officer in Turkana, Kenya. From 1977 to 2003, GP with Bowthorpe and Trinity Practice, Norwich. Involved with campaigning for the NHS since 2011.