After graduating from Oxford (The Queen’s College) in Zoology (1967) and Biological Anthropology (1968), I taught science in Nigeria for a year under the ægis of Voluntary Service Overseas. Returning to Britain in 1969 I obtained my doctorate at the London School of Economics under the supervision of the late Professor David Glass FRS. Beginning my academic career at University College London I eventually moved to Oxford University. I remain active although retired.

I was born in London in 1946 in London. My parents were from the North, from Consett and Darlington. I have three daughters and eight grandchildren. My wife of forty years, Sarah (née Babington) died in 2015. I retired a few years ago but still do some research, writing and reviews. I live with two dogs and sundry lodgers in an old house in North Oxford.

Department of Social Policy and Intervention, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2ER david.coleman@spi.ox.ac.uk