| 1959-1962 | Undergraduate at Exeter University, leaving with honours degree in physics. |
| 1962-1965 | Postgraduate research in St Andrews University, leaving with PhD in theoretical physics. |
| 1965-1967 | Postdoctoral research in theoretical physics at Bristol University, as Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Fellow. |
| 1967-1974 | Lecturer in Physics at Bristol University. |
| 1974-1979 | Reader in Physics at Bristol University |
| 1979-1988 | Professor of Physics at Bristol University |
| 1988-2006 | Royal Society Research Professor at Bristol University. |
| 2006-2008 | Melville Wills Professor of Physics at Bristol University (Emeritus) |