Formation: Tonbridge School
Exeter College, Oxford, M.A. – Letterae Humaniores
Carrière:
1956 Successful in open competition for entry to United Kingdom civil service.
1956-1958 Army service (2nd Lt, Royal Signals)
1958 Entered Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
1960-1962 Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary and to successive Parliamentary Secretaries.
1965-1967 HM Diplomatic Service as First Secretary (Agriculture and Food), Geneva, for Kennedy Round Trade Negotiation.
1967-1970 Principal Private Secretary to successive Ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
1970-1974 Head of Milk and Milk Products Division, Marketing policy Division and Food Policy Division.
1974-1976 Promoted Under-Secretary 1974 and took charge of General Agricultural Policy Group.
1976-1977 and of European Communities Group.
À la Commission
1977 Left United Kingdom civil service and entered service of the Commission of the European Communities.
1977-1983 Deputy Director General (Agriculture) in the Commission of the European Communities with grade A1 àtp, responsible for the organization of the European Community market for all major agricultural products.
Intermède
1983-1987 Returned to the United Kingdom civil service as Deputy Secretary and Head of European Secretariat, Cabinet Office, responsible for coordination of departmental positions for discussions within the European Community and for advising the Prime Minister on European Community affairs. For part of this period also Deputy Secretary of the United Kingdom Cabinet.
Retour à la Commission
1987-1997 Return to Brussels as Secretary of the European Commission