I graduated in geology from Imperial College, London in 1963. I studied in the mines of Norway for my PhD in mining geology, then took a lecturing post at Nottingham Trent University.

My cave exploration continued largely in the Yorkshire Dales, but every summer in a distant land of limestone. The latter included leading my expedition to the Himalayas supported by my Fellowship, a search for underground water resources in Java, establishing a national park in Borneo, and leading the first Western cave exploration team in the karst of China.

My interests, first in caves and later in wider aspects of geology, have taken me all over the world, notably to almost every country in Asia. I have thereby formed a large collection of photographs, lecture frequently and have published many books and academic papers.

For many years I organised and led grand geological excursions to distant places, with my last as the best-ever excursion to Alaska and Kamchatka in 1999. I continue to travel widely, always with my wife Jan, and now also lecture on the cruise ships where I can carry the excitement of geology and travel to new audiences.