After a proposed career in biochemistry he turned to music, studied organ with Dr Melville Cook and a MusB at Trinity College, Dublin. He has composed steadily throughout his career. He spent fifteen years as a lecturer in further education and another fifteen years (part-time) as an examiner for Trinity College of Music, London. His works comprise choral, orchestral and chamber music, with several pieces for teaching purposes. In the late seventies he spent time in research on Taverner and Renaissance music for a PhD.