He was born in Pendle Road Streatham. His father Thomas was a tea salesman and his mother Lydia died in 1908. He was baptised in Brixton and attended Strand School
He was Leader of the Greater London Council from 1973-77. On the moderate wing of the Labour Party, he favoured public control of utilities. A few years later another Streatham-born politician, Ken Livingston became leader of the GLC