During the winter my attention was attracted to the changes in the stars and planets in the sky.

It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own sake and to see how it might help mankind in more practical ways.

I am still a keen mountain walker and an enthusiastic glider pilot.

At age 11 in 1960, I moved to an academic state secondary school, Harrow County Grammar School for Boys.

After an extensive interview he arranged for my weaknesses in foreign languages to be over-looked and so I started a Biology degree at Birmingham in 1967.

I was by far the youngest of the family, and at times it was like being an only child.

I had a great time investigating the pigments of different mutant fruit flies by following experimental protocols published in Scientific American, and I also remember making my own beetle collection when it was still acceptable to make such collections.