After gaining a music degree at Oxford, he was a pupil of Herbert Howells in composition, and of Gordon Jacob in orchestration, at the Royal College of Music. Though trained originally as a pianist and organist, he left the College to become a horn player in the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, as well as freelancing with other London and provincial orchestras for some ten years.

Later, he became a repetiteur at the Royal Opera House, Assistant Musical Director with Welsh National Opera, Music Director with HTV, Chief Conductor of the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra and up to retirement was Senior Music Producer for Radio 3.

His compositions have covered many genres – film music, orchestral suites, concertos for saxophone and for flute, music for wind band, choral works both accompanied and a cappella, songs, music for children and jazz.