He began his career at the age of 18 in 1944 when he joined the Army and spent time in India. On return to England, he went to Clare College, Cambridge in 1948 taking Botany and Geology at Part I. Although being tempted to take Geology for Part II, he decided to study Botany, for which he obtained First Class Honours and the Frank Smart Studentship.
At the age of eighteen in 1944, he began his military career by joining the Army and serving in India. After returning to England in 1948, he attended Clare College, Cambridge where he studied Botany and Geology as Part I. Despite a brief consideration for Geology in Part II, he opted for Botany, achieving First Class Honours and the Frank Smart Studentship.