I qualified in medicine in 1964. I undertook basic training in psychiatry at the Bristol Royal Infirmary between 1966 and 1968 and higher training in child psychiatry at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children from 1969 to 1971. I spent the year 1971/1972 as a US Government Fellow in the Laboratory of Community Mental Health at Harvard Medical School. When I returned to Bristol I worked as a consultant psychiatrist in the National Health Service until my retirement in 2001. For the majority of that time I was based in the University of Bristol and was engaged in teachng, research and clinical work. I have had wide experience at consultant level in child psychiatry, in adult mental illness and for the over 30 years I specialised in the psychiatry of learning disability. In 1988 I co-founded the Norah Fry Research Centre with Linda Ward and Carol Robinson.The centre has recently celebrated its 25th birthday. In 1997 I was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees of the British Institute of Learning Disabilities. I held this post for six years. In 1998 I was seconded for three years as Senior Policy Adviser in Mental Health to the Department of Health. After my retirement I was appointed Lord Chancellor's Medical Visitor for Wales. After retiring I became a trustee of Circles Network and am now Honorary President. In 2005 I was appointed as medical adviser to an enquiry into services for people with learning disabilities in Cornwall. I am no longer involved in clincal work