After a spell of 1950s university maths, science, darts, beer, and bad rhythm-guitar playing in skiffle group, I switched to medicine.

Qualifying in the 1960s, I worked 35 years in the British National Health Service, twenty five as medical consultant/senior lecturer, latterly also medical director of large English teaching hospital. Examiner for foreign medical degrees/teacher abroad for London College exams.

Retired 2000 and worked 8 years part-time as medico-legal and medical management consultant.

In 2008, having always had an interest in history of science and maths, and in philosophy, I decided to study the latter more rigorously, I embarked on an external London BA (Phil), signed up for Pathways support, and graduated with first-class honours and year prize in 2011.

My interests are in philosophy of science/maths, metaphysics, and hardy perennials such as free will, causation, time and the mind-body problem.

Having had to wade through many poorly-written annual reports, project applications, option appraisals, white papers and the like, I am a fan of simple, clear, exact, vivid prose as in the King James bible, George Orwell or Ruth Rendell, and among my favourite philosophers-as-writers are Plato, Descartes, Berkeley, Bertrand Russell and David Lewis.

I play bridge fairly well. My wife and I are well-travelled (46 countries including several where she supported children through the World Family organization).