Born in the Border town of Komga in 1914 he grew up in Queenstown with 5 brothers and 1 sister. He got his high schooling at Queens College (the best school in he country) and played plenty of cricket and rugby as a schoolboy. After matriculating he enrolled at the Saasveld near George where he got a Forestry Diploma. Playing rugby for Saasveld he got injured and received first aid from one of the Urban sisters, Imelda who he married in 1941. He enlisted with Wits Rifles, rose to the rank of major and saw active service in North Africa at Alamain and in Italy. After the war he joined his father-in law's business, Urban's Industries where he managed the sawmilling division till he retired in 1974. Always a keen cricketer he played for George and SWD for many years and was Chairman of the George Sports Union responsible for building the Outeniqua Park stadium.. Always a keen fisherman he retired to Herolds Bay .
